1837 - 1969

Home

History  

Technical 

Indexes

This title is no exaggeration!  Many of the fixtures discussed here top 6ft or even 2 metres in height and 4ft 6in across, often hexagon, octagon and even 12-sided in section!  And the reason -- without this huge size the whole frame would have collapsed because the soft solder that holds  the majority of the lantern components together would simply have melted under the temperature produced by the multi flame burner. (See burner pictures in Lighting/Burners/Open flame.)

The invention of the gas mantle, radically changed the size of lanterns because the same amount of illumination could be achieved with a tiny proportion of the gas consumed and thus the heat was reduced dramatically.  The large lanterns came to quite an abrupt end and that is why they are so rare today.  They are, however, a notable feature of almost any contemporary photograph of street scenes, especially in London.

Workman about to fit twin open flame burner (laying by his feet) for gas test on a Lambeth Lantern.  (Note the etched logo)

Post mounted and suspension versions of Westminster and Lambeth lanterns.  The Lambeth appears to differ from the one with the workman in the chimney section which appears a little longer and pierced rather than slotted and carries a plain spun cap and spike as against a scalloped cap and spike.

These two illustrations from 1879 show two versions of a huge Sugg 12-sided glazed top lantern with opal glass panels to improve the light distribution providing increased downward illumination. 

This is a current illustration from the Sovereign Hill area of the historic town of Ballarat in Victoria, Australia, not far from Melbourne.  It carries a number of Sugg lanterns including these refurbished 12-sided lanterns - the oldest design of Sugg lanterns still in use - and clearly the same as the ones in the book illustration 128 years earlier. 
Unless someone knows better!
This picture is by courtesy of David Morrison who is a professional photographer in the area and was photographing heritage items.  He was familiar with the word SUGG but didn't know 'what it meant' so turned to the internet - and the rest is history - literally!

UNDER CONTINUOUS DEVELOPMENT - PLEASE CALL AGAIN!

Copyright © Chris Sugg 2006

Top of page
or
Back to 'Street Lamps'
or
 Back to 'Lighting'