History of the Dietz Lantern

I have recently expanded my collecting from civil war artifacts, rifle cartridge boxes and gun oil tins to also include Lanterns specifically Dietz Lanterns who has been in business since 1840 when Robert E. Dietz at Age 22, purchases a lamp & oil business at 62 Fulton St., at the corner of Columbia St., Brooklyn, New York. He began manufacturing candle lanterns, and was able to save $600 in the first year of business.

There are so many different types of Dietz lanterns that I still am trying to research it but, I recently made my first purchase which is a Dietz Comet Lantern. I was able to find this one to the left which had  never been used and comes with the original box.


To my knowledge it is dated in the early 1950's so being in the condition it is I feel is a good find. Anyway let's see what history has had to say about the Dietz Lanterns.

PRINCIPLES OF LANTERN CONSTRUCTION

 

cold blast

Most kerosene lanterns embody one of three distinct types of construction:  Hot-Blast, Cold Blast, or Dead-Flame. Dietz makes all three types to fill every lighting requirement.

Cold-Blast and Hot-Blast are tubular lanterns.  In them, the kerosene vapor mixed with air, in proper ratio, composes the burning mixture.   The burner acts as a carburetor to which the side tubes convey properly controlled air in regulated volume.  Result:  perfect combustion and bright, clean light.  A cold-blast lantern, easily the most efficient of all, is constructed so that only fresh, cold air enters the tubes, while the spent air is diverted and expelled.  

hot blast

Hot-blast lanterns permit a portion of spent air to recirculate through the tubes.  (Cold-blast provides about twice the brightness of hot-blast.)

Dead-flame lanterns take in fresh air through the baffles at bottom, expel spent air at top.  Hot and cold-blast lanterns produce much more light than dead-flame type.

 HOW TO GET THE MOST FROM YOUR LANTERNS

Correct maintenance of lanterns will provide lower lighting costs, brighter lighting, long time between fillings, longer lantern life, greater reliability and more certain protection of the public.  Follow these simple suggestions...

1.  To Remove the Globe.  On a Cold Blast lantern, grasp bail and lift ring (as shown.) Lift up on ring, tilt back globe, and allow it to go all the way down. If the globe has LOC-NOBs, rotate globe a quarter turn, and pull out from wire cross guards.
2.  To Remove Burner and Wick.  Turn burner until ears are disengaged.  Lift out burner.  Keep wick between finger and edge of fuel compartment so that it is wiped dry of excess kerosene.
3.  To Trim Wick.  Cut straight across with shears (for either charred portion of old wick or fuzzy portion of new one.)   A straight wick will burn more evenly, and give better light.
4.  To Replace Burner and Wick.  Put wick back into fuel compartment (or fount.)   Lock burner back into place, making sure it is fitted into both grooves.   (Use a piece of tape to make a leader to assist in changing the wick if necessary.)
5.  To Light.  Push lift lever straight down.  Light lantern.  Set the flame a little lower than is desired for burning, since the flame will burn higher after the lantern reaches operating temperature.  If lantern is to be used in freezing weather, light it outside to avoid breaking the globe.