34 BULLETIN 141^ UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM 



sewed on at the mouth, but merely a suspended pottery lamp of an- 

 tique shape is suspended within. (PL 29a., fig. 1, Cat. No. 283062, 

 Tarlac, Luzon; Philippine Commission; 9.5 inches (24 cm.) diameter, 

 15.8 inches (40 cm.) high.) The dark lantern which antedates the 

 electric flash light by perhaps several centuries was a device affected 

 by guardians of the peace and it is said also by robbers. The speci- 

 men shown on Plate 276, Figure 6, the oldest in the collection, is of 

 French make, early eighteenth century. It is of good craftsmanship, 

 the fluted turret being a difficult piece of work. The glass is bowed 

 and is probably a later substitute for the horn pane. A candle was 

 the means of illumination. In these lanterns of the earliest type the 

 glass is mounted in a cylinder turning within the outer case and 

 moved into position for light by rotating the turret. In this case 

 the handle is rigid; in modern forms the handles fold back. (Cat. 

 No. 311656, France; Elizabeth S. Stevens; 10 inches (25 cm.) high.) 

 In point of age Figure 3, Plate 48, is next. The mechanism is as 

 in the French specimen and it is also for candle. The handle is in 

 two parts ingeniously fitted to slide together into flat position. The 

 lantern is made of brass. (Cat. No. 168125, Italy; G. Brown Goode; 

 6.7 inches (17 cm.) high.) Another of modern type with bull's-eye 

 of glass has also a collapsing handle and a two-wick tube lamp. The 

 slide moved by the turret shuts off or admits the light through the 

 lens. The back of the interior is tinned as a reflector. This feature 

 is found in most of the dark lanterns. This specimen was used m 

 the Armory Square Hospital during the Civil War. (PI. 276, fig. 

 4, Cat. No. 247659, Washington, D. C; A. Haas; 6.3 inches (16 

 cm.) high.) Figure 2, Plate 276, has a double turret with flutes, 

 two wire handles, and a strip on the back for hanging the lantern 

 inside the coat. This device brings the lantern nearer to compara- 

 tively modern police methods. This lantern dates 1845-1858. The 

 slide is moved by a peg and slat and not by the turret. (Cat. No. 

 204894, Boston, Mass.; C. A. Q. Norton; 7 inches (18 cm.) high.) 

 A two-tube wick lamp was used. Another similar specimen with 

 candle socket is of black japanned tin. It was made by J. G. and 

 W. Lord, Birmingham. (PI. 276, fig. 5, Cat. No. 316255, England; 

 Walter Hough; 6. 9 inches (17.5 cm.) high.) A fine lantern of thick 

 copper and embodying the principle of the dark lantern is in the 

 collection. The light aperture is furnished Avith two plates of horn. 

 The slide is moved as usual by turning the top and held by a button 

 which slides in a slot when the lantern is open and shut. The 

 lantern has a candle socket and two short tubular ventilators on 

 either side of it. (PL 276, fig. 1, Cat. No. 290447, probably English; 

 Mrs. C. E. Bates; 14.4 inches (30.5 cm.) high, 6 inches (15 cm.) 

 diameter.) 



