Seeing the Light

Seeing the Light. . , Evolution of Lighting the Way , It has long been documented that the first shoreline lights were wood burning fires set on hillsides. Later, these wood fires were moved to the top of man-made towers. Wood however proved to be inefficient, as it would burn rapidly, being very difficult to maintain. Candles offered a cleaner and less labor intensive solution, but were not as bright. The introduction of the oil lamp revolutionized lighthouse technology. The oil based lamps would be used well into the 20th century. Electricity would ultimately lead to automated lights, and the end for the need of a full time light keeper., Lewis Lamp , In 1810, American Winslow Lewis patented an adaptation of the Argand lamp for use in the United States. Lewis increased the light by hanging many lamps together in chandeliers which could be rotated to provide a flashing light. By 1820 all 49 United States lighthouses were outfitted with Lewis Lamps., Fresnel Lens , French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel developed a lens which surrounded a single lamp. A series of glass prisms would reflect and refract the light into a single beam, allowing it to be seen from greater distances. In the 1850's, the Lighthouse Service decided to use the new technology in all its lighthouses., Fuels , When oil lamps were introduced, whale oil was the fuel used in almost all lighthouses. Its demand however, led to higher costs, and the search for cheaper alternative. Various oils were tested, and lard oil proved to be the most economical and became the most utilized. Lard oil however did not burn cleanly, and would soon be replaced by the cleaner burning mineral oil (kerosene). Mineral oil would be used until the introduction of electric lights.