Shedding Some Light On Lantern History
Below is a MRR and PLR article in category Home Family -> subcategory Home Improvement.
Illuminating the History of Lanterns
Summary
Lanterns, originally utilitarian, were essential for protecting candle flames from wind. Early designs were simple and made from inexpensive materials like sheet iron or tinplate. Over time, they evolved from mere functional objects to decorative items, reflecting changes in technology and society.
Article
In their earliest forms, lanterns were purely functional. They were primarily square-shaped and designed simply to shield candle flames from the wind. Typically crafted from sheet iron or tinplate, these materials were affordable and widely used. During the American Revolution, expensive metals like pewter and brass were reserved for weaponry, making them too valuable for lanterns.
Colonists often went to bed at sunset or used fire for light and warmth. The first lantern, known as a "lanthorne," marked the beginning of artificial lighting. Unlike today, where lanterns serve both practical and decorative purposes, early models were strictly practical.
A couple of centuries ago, hanging lanterns were the sole source of street lighting in American cities. Few towns had other lighting options. In the early 1700s, Boston used iron baskets, or cressets, fueled by pine knots for illumination at busy intersections. Night watchmen maintained these lights. Soon, laws required every sixth home to display a lantern or torch for public lighting.
By the 1770s in Boston, post lanterns, often fueled by whale oil, became prominent. Benjamin Franklin pioneered public lighting in Philadelphia with his 1751 introduction of lanterns. He discovered that using two wicks together produced more light than separate lanterns and experimented with camphene, a bright but highly flammable fuel made from turpentine and alcohol.
The shift to gas lanterns began around 1800, with European cities like London adopting them before the U.S. Paris followed suit by 1818. Innovations such as fan-shaped gas tubes, a gas-air mixture before ignition, and a cloth mantle made of metallic oxide significantly enhanced gas lanterns' brightness and efficiency.
Today, lanterns are not only practical but also add an aesthetic touch to our surroundings, reflecting their rich history and evolution.
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