Flitch of bacon custom already be well known to the reader. It continued to be awarded until the middle of the 18th century, the last successful claim being made on 20 June 1751. The ceremony of this last flitch award was recorded by the artist David Ogborne who was present at the time to make sketches and, later, engravings. His images were later used as source material by Ainsworth for his novel, "The Flitch of Bacon". Ainsworth's 1854 novel proved so popular that it revived the custom which has continued in one form or another down to the present day and is now held
Flitch beam from "The American Architect and Building News" compares three alternatives in a hypothetical railway station “in which the second story is devoted to offices, and where we must use girders to support the second floor of 25-foot span, and not less than 12 feet on centres if we can avoid it. This would give us to be supported by the girder a floor area of 12’ x 25’ = 300 square feet” and 31,500 pounds of load. After performing calculations the beams compare as follows: The article also cites the fire-retardant character of the flitch beam, “in case of a