Dark
Lantern

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to enlarge |
Deck
Lantern
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to enlarge |
There
were two versions of ship lantern used by the United States Navy and Merchant
ships during the First World War. They were the World Standard Deck
Lantern and the Dark Lantern. Made by numerous manufacturers such
as R. E. Dietz, Perkins Marine Lamp Corporation and Universal Metal Spinning
& Stamping Company the lanterns were sturdy and well made.
Lafayette
Metal Deck
Keystoneware Dark
Universal Metal Deck |
The
Dark lantern was unique in that it had a shield that could be raised to
conceal the lanterns light without having to spend the time to remove the
fount and extinguish the flame. The Deck lantern was probably used
on ships that weren't directly involved in combat or in places on ships
where light from the lantern didn't reveal the ships location.
Although both lanterns were made of tin or brass, a large number of them
were painted black to protect them against the harshness of the ocean and
to provide additional camouflage.
This
site exists for the purpose of helping others to learn about the history
of the World Standard Deck and Dark Lanterns. It is not associated
with any historical society, organization, or company. For more information,
please contact us at darklanterns@yahoo.com
or sign our Guestbook.
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Perkins Marine Lamp Corp. |
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