Highway traffic torches (aka "smudge pot") were usually either flat bottom (semi-sepherical or with an attached cylindrical bottom) and unweighted OR round with a weighted bottom.

 (Smaller squared-off torches were designed to be carried on trucks and buses usually in a container of three and set out to warn of vehicle breakdowns as required by the Interstate Commerce Commission rules. These often had chained snuffer caps to prevent loss. Others had caps that forced the burner back down into the torch body. Names on these include not only the usual torch producers but also Anthes, DoRay, KingBee, etc.)

Pictured above are two round torches currently being made and marketed as patio torches or flares. Both have their snuffers resting in their carrying loops (Snuffer caps were rare on the originals.)

The silver torch with black burner and cap was made in China and sold by Lamp Light Farms with the model name "Sentinel" but unmarked. (A similar import available at Wall-Mart was labeled under the "Rockford Tool Co." name. Except for tags, UPC, and finish, they're virtually identical.)

 The black torch with silver burner and cap is made in the U.S.A. by Fisher-Barton and is made from original "Toledo Torch" dies and is so marked. (F-B no longer offers the flat-bottom version.) These (in black and green, not red or blue) may be ordered on-line at Premiere Products .

 Both are good representations of the torches from times past. The Toledo with it's cotton wick and from known original dies is the most "correct".(Not shown are the Embury torches noted for their chain and ring instead of the ring attached directly to the torch.)

An unusual torch used in highway service is the Piper switch heater. When not in use for its intended winter purpose it found its way in the summer to be a very long-burning highway torch when railroad crossings were rebuilt.

It's odd to find an ad for torches in the Spring of 2001! (Only 4 times the probable original cost.) Wow! Even cheaper in Apr/May, 2002.