The history of lighthouse illumination is a testament to human ingenuity. Throughout the centuries, lighthouses have used a variety of lighting techniques to guide ships safely to shore. From simple wood fires to modern electric lamps, the methods have evolved to provide brighter and more reliable light sources.

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The Early Years: Fires and Beacons

In the early days, lighthouses relied on open fires and beacons to provide warning lights for mariners. These fires were often unreliable due to variations in burning well, with lots of flame and therefore light, or burning poorly with little flame or much smoke. They were maintained by both public and private enterprises, with patents granted for upkeep in some countries. The first recorded use of mined coal in a lighthouse was in Dungeness, England in 1616. However, the quality of the light from coal fires varied considerably with weather conditions.

Braziers and Coal Fires

Braziers, which were coal and wood fires, were used as warning lights. They were enclosed in a lantern with a ventilating flue to carry away smoke. However, the glazing would often become blackened, leading to their removal. The Isle of May, in Scotland, had a stone tower with a coal-fired brazier at its top in 1636. Another example is the island of St. Agnes in the Isles of Scilly, England, which had a lantern enclosing a coal fire in 1680. These coal fires were eventually replaced by more efficient lamps and reflectors.

Candles and Bougies

The first use of candles in lighthouses consisted of simple lanterns shown at windows by hermits or monks. When the lanterns were enclosed in a lantern room, candles provided a significant improvement in light output. Early candles were made from tallow or wax, and while they emitted a feeble light individually, multiple candles placed in a candelabrum produced a brighter light. Bougies, made from tallow, were used in early French lighthouses. The first lighthouse illumination in America also came from tallow candles.

The Evolution of Oil Lamps

Oil lamps were a significant advancement in lighthouse illumination. The Cresset, one of the earliest oil lamps, was a bowl filled with fish oil and had a small rope wick. In the early days, there were no standard types of oil lamps. Most lamps had solid-rope wicks made of cotton and a small oil reservoir. Fish oil, seal oil, and later, whale oil were used as fuel. These lamps produced a poor light with smoke and fumes, but improvements were made by flattening the wicks and allowing better airflow. Spider lamps, such as the Pan Lamp and Bucket Lamp, were used in the 1760s and were an improvement over early oil lamps. These lamps used large-diameter wicks side by side across the surface of the metal pan, producing more light.

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Argand Lamps and Reflectors

In 1782, François-Pierre Ami Argand invented the double draft burner, known as the Argand oil lamp. This lamp used two thin metal tubes with a wick between them. It provided more oxygen to the flame, resulting in a brighter light. The Argand lamp was further improved with the addition of a chimney and constricted chimney, which enhanced combustion and brightness. Robert Stevenson also developed lamps that used Argand burners with parabolic reflectors. Winslow Lewis, an American ship captain, also created a crude lamp design, followed by improvements from George Lewis, Joseph Funck, and Winslow Lewis Jr.

Oil and Kerosene Lamps for Fresnel Lenses

Various types of lamps were used with Fresnel lenses. Capillary lamps used capillary attraction to raise the fuel to the wick. The moderator lamp used a spring-operated piston to force oil to the wick through a constricted valve. Funck created the improved fourth-order lamp and Funck-Heap lamp, which used improved Argand burners with multiple wicks. Lepaute developed an escapement lamp and Franchot invented the Moderator lamp, which used a spiral spring-operated piston. These lamps were used in fixed lenses in France and America.

Pneumatic Lamps

Pneumatic lamps used air pressure to maintain fuel flow to the burner. The Wilkins and Heap lamps were examples of pneumatic lamps. Acetylene gas and hydrostatic lamps were also used in lighthouses.

The Advent of Electricity

Electricity was first used in lighthouses in 1857. The electric arc light was developed and improved by various inventors, including Serrin in France and Lontin in France. The De Meritens magneto generator was used to power arc lamps, and later incandescent lamps were also used. The invention of the tungsten filament light bulb by Thomas Edison and the development of the incandescent oil vapor lamp further advanced lighthouse lighting technology. Today, modern bulbs and electric lamps are commonly used in lighthouses.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What were the earliest methods used to illuminate lighthouses?

A: The earliest methods used simple wood fires, fire beacons, and later, coal and wood fires in braziers. These were enclosed in lanterns with ventilating flues to carry away smoke.

Q: When were oil lamps first used in lighthouses?

A: Oil lamps were first used in lighthouses in the 1500s. They provided an improvement in light output compared to open fires and beacons.

Q: What were the challenges with early oil lamps?

A: Early oil lamps produced a poor light with smoke and fumes. The glazing of the lanterns would often become blackened, and the lamps required frequent maintenance.

Q: How did the invention of the Argand lamp improve lighthouse lighting?

A: The Argand lamp, invented in 1782, provided more oxygen to the flame, resulting in a brighter light. It also introduced the use of a chimney to protect the flame from outside air currents, which could cause flickering.

Q: When was electricity first used in lighthouses?

A: Electricity was first used in lighthouses in 1857. The electric arc light was introduced, and later, incandescent light bulbs were used to illuminate lighthouses.

Q: What type of lamps replaced acetylene gas?

A: Modern electric lamps, such as filament bulbs and halogen lamps, replaced acetylene gas lamps in lighthouses.

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