Lantern, Signal

Object/Artifact

-

Historic Stonington

Fresnel Lens

Fresnel Lens

Name/Title

Lantern, Signal

Entry/Object ID

2010.700.037

Description

4th Order Fresnel Lens on loan from US Coast Guard. Tag reads: "Auth: COMDT(C-FPR/71) Ltr..4570, / Serial No. 6531 of 8/16/73). Back top rim of lens is engraved: "(first part is unreadable) PARIS 1888 111 [over] 350" Reportedly, 4th order lens could be seen up to 15 nautical miles and burned 5.25 oz of oil an hour. In 1884, 221 of these lens were in US lighthouses. See, http://www.terrypepper.com/lights/closeups/illumination/fresnel/4order.htm). Stonington Light had old-style parabolic reflector lights until 1856 when replaced with a sixth order Fresnel lens, the smallest of regular lights, suitable for lighting harbors and breakwaters.

Collection

Lighthouse Collection LOAN

Made/Created

Notes

Made: Paris