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Introduction:
Today we're used to amber one or two-faced flashing or
steady-burning battery-operated warning lights mounted on barricades or barrels to warn us of construction
sites and guide us around them but in the earliest days of motoring drivers were
lucky if their night-time travels brought them to a construction area that was
even protected by some old kerosene barn
lanterns.
Actually these lanterns, more properly described as tubular hot-blast or
cold-blast lanterns, were originally designed for illumination purposes, not
signals. They required constant attention due to their use of fuel (unlike
railroad signals that used special optical lens to increase the intensity of a
smaller flame with a minimal fuel supply).
Any and all types of tall and short globe lanterns were used in this service.
The popular Little Wizard developed large font cousins like the Little Giant and
Contractor.
The #100 "special" variation of the Little Wizard and Little Giant is interesting due to
its use
of a smaller wick burner.
Even Chalwyn from England penetrated New York with their large font Tropic
Special and for many contractors and jurisdictions these tubulars remained as
either a primary or equal signal source.
(The Dietz Little Wizard #1, the most recent cousin of the Contractor, continues
to be manufactured and imported by W. T. Kirkman and Lehman's.)
Yet another early type of lantern in this category was the Dietz #39 (and other
similar lanterns) that were originally designed for railroad use but fitted with
a rather unusual solid flat metal "bail" attached to the dome and marked with
variations indicating they were used by the City of New York. Their
specific use is questionable given their small fount capacity.
A small sample of catalog sheets
and comparative prices can be reviewed on
this page.
One might ask, "How were these devices even
effective?" You must remember that the sealed beam headlight wasn't even
invented until 1940. Mercury and sodium vapor streetlights hadn't been invented.
The streetlights in the cities at the time were arc or low-wattage incandescent,
when they existed, if not kerosene-powered themselves. Neither the plastic
reflex reflector had been made nor had reflective sheeting been envisioned.
Highway/Traffic/Utility Lanterns in General:
The solution was to develop a lantern similar to
those in railroad service but with a longer burning capacity. A standard railway
lantern would have its font/fount and bell or wire bottom removed and the
remaining top portion was simply attached to a suitable tank and an appropriate
dead-flame long-burning burner installed. Embury, fortunately, designed.....
The Embury #40,
which became the Dietz
#40,
and inspired the Handlan #57:
The Embury Manufacturing Company of Warsaw, New
York, received their
patent for the Model 40
Traffic Gard in 1940 with a uniquely-sized optically correct Fresnel
globe, large font, and streamlined frame - probably the first "modern"
dead-flame lantern designed specifically for automobile traffic control use.
In actual practice this lantern has proven to be
a consistent source of a steady signal when the other lanterns discussed further
below have been known to be undependable due to many circumstances either
external or due to design. Perhaps the size of the
globe never before used was a factor.
As indicated only three companies produced
variations of this lantern until 1960s-70s and each will be covered separately:
(Click
on a label for the Traffic Gard Models
or use the links at the top)
(While the term "traffic lantern" is generic, Embury registered
Traffic Gard, Dietz acquired it, and Handlan couldn't use the name)
Highway and traffic and utility lanterns were
sometimes stamped with generic or specific owner markings in a manner similar to
railroad lanterns. Some markings on the Model 40 and 57 lanterns will be found
at
Marked Variations.
Decline in use:
Even if traffic lanterns ceased to be produced after the 1960s their
durability and dependability (the negative comment to the contrary below
probably primarily refers to torches) carried them for another ten years. They
had always been included in the
Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices
for Streets and Highways as an unquestioned traffic control tool up until a
final entry in the early 1970s:
6D-7 Lanterns
or Torches.
As used in this Manual, lanterns and torches are single-unit,
portable, constant-burning, low-intensity type of lights with open or enclosed
flame. They provide negligible illumination of other objects, and are not
altogether dependable under adverse weather conditions such as high wind or
heavy rains. Furthermore, the flammable fuel used in the lanterns or torches
may be a hazard to life and property, and their use, therefore, is not
recommended
Subsequent editions made no mention of lanterns.
People that help:
Thanks to my father who gave me my very
first Traffic Gard at age 8; and to my mother who actually let me light it in
the living room.
My special thanks to David Dreimiller,
lantern bookseller and author of SIGNAL LIGHTS, who has endured way too
much email from me. And also my thanks to Anthony Hobson, author of LANTERNS
THAT LIT OUR WORLD. Both unknowingly sent me down this unending trail.
Subsequent to the original goal of a single hand-written html page on the subject that has survived several isps many other people have contributed great information. Unfortunately many of the contributor's identities have been lost in misplaced mail and crashes or in other cases I can't recall who exactly told me what :) But you know who you are and thank you.
If you haven't been there be sure to check out
the Kerosene Lantern Connection.
Lots of information and links - it is the connection. A quick
composite history of Dietz and Embury can be found at
LanternNet, the most complete
source of currently available
Dietz lanterns and parts. Key, Lock & Lantern is the place to go for
railroad lantern information
as well as
Railroadiana Online. Finally, there's also specific information about
marine lanterns.
And if you'd like more information or have information to share visit the
Traffic Lantern
Message
Board.
Page conceived in 1966, created
in late 1997, and last updated on 8/Jan/2008
by and ©
G. A. Vandercook.
Effective 11 August 1998 this disclaimer is
necessary in order to stave off attorneys and appraisers. The data contained
herein is informative only. No production figures for these lanterns are
available Production dates are approximate and value should not be attempted
from dates alone. What may at first glance seem to be rare may actually be
plentiful. Ugly lanterns aren't popular. The inclusion (or lack thereof or of a
variation) should not be considered when determining value. Don't count your
peanuts before you crack the shells. And you might not even want to face what's
inside. Or was that chickens and eggs? You get the drift. Now enjoy.
EZR
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