Candles (1716–1720)
Early American lighthouses used candles made from tallow or beef fat. Though more effective than wood or coal, candles were smoky and burned quickly. Chandeliers were sometimes used to burn multiple candles, with a reflector placed behind them to enhance intensity. This setup was still not very efficient.
Capillary Feed
This category includes lamps that rely on capillary action to draw oil from a reservoir up through a wick to the flame. It was in use from 1760 to 1916. The lamp types included rope wick single, flat wick single, flat wick duplex, Argand single, and wick mantle. Known lamp names were Pan, Compass, Bucket, Lamp, Duplex Lamp, Hains, Funck, Funck-Heap, and Mantle.
Pan Lamp (1760–1855)
- Types: Circular, Rectangular, Donut (Compass Lamp)
- Year of Origin: 1760 Pan; Compass 1820
- Features: Multiple rope wicks (2–24), 12+ hour burn time, high oil consumption, smoky but brighter than predecessors
Bucket Lamp (1760–1850)
- Year of Origin: 1780
- Features: Cylindrical body, 2–4 rope wick spouts, up to 8 quarts oil capacity, used in small lighthouses and beacons, flames sometimes obstructed
Flat Wick and Duplex Lamps (1720–1760)
- Features: Flat wicks raised oil through fibers, duplex version had two wicks for a brighter, wider flame, used in fourth-order and smaller lenses
Argand Lamp
Argand lamps used a hollow circular wick and chimney to enhance airflow and maintain a consistent, bright flame. They were used from 1810 to 1910.
Funck-Heap Lamp (1892)
- Features: Single 1⅛-inch wick, flame spreader, screw-feed wick, used in fourth-order U.S. lenses
Argand Lamp (1784 onward)
- Features: Designed by Ami Argand, hollow wick with chimney, stable, bright flame, adopted globally
Aladdin Wick Mantle Lamp
- Features: Wick-fed mantle system, substitute for I.O.V. lamps in 4th–6th orders, and used in keeper dwellings
Clockwork Mechanical Pump
Used from 1824 to 1852, these lamps used mechanical clockwork pumps to deliver oil to burners and regulate overflow cooling.
Sautter Mechanical Lamp (1852)
- Features: Carcel clockwork, double-piston pump, overflow cooling, improved burner airflow with Fresnel-Arago designs
Escapement Mechanical Pump
Dating to 1845, this type used an escapement mechanism to regulate oil flow.
Air Pressure
Introduced in 1899, these lamps used compressed air to force kerosene to the burner. They were ideal for remote installations.
Heap Air-Pressure Pneumatic Lamp (1900)
- Features: 20 psi air pressure to move kerosene, low-maintenance, designed by David Heap
Incandescent Oil Vapor (IOV)
These lamps vaporized kerosene under pressure and ignited it in a mantle for efficient light. They were introduced in 1904.
Luchaire IOV Lamp
- Features: Vaporized kerosene with high oxygen combustion, 3x brighter than Argand lamps, included Chance Brothers and Luchaire styles
Fluid Pressure
First used in 1840, these systems used the difference in fluid densities to feed oil to the wick.
Thilorier’s Hydrostatic Lamp
- Features: Zinc sulfate solution beneath oil, density-based flow, used where hydraulic piping caused optical interference
Gravity Feed – Fountain Lamps
These systems used gravity-fed oil from an upper reservoir. Operational from 1812 to 1889, they included various types such as Argand and flat wicks.
Winslow Lewis Reflectors and Lamps (1812–1855)
- Features: Used reflectors and oil lamps, widespread in U.S. lighthouses, less effective than Argand lamps
Funck Hydraulic-Float Lamp (1869)
- Features: Manually pumped lower to upper reservoir, steady gravity-fed lighting
Category: Spring Piston
Introduced in 1836, spring-operated pistons compressed oil to feed the wick.
• Franchot’s Spring-Operated Moderator Lamp
- Features: Wound by key, spring-driven piston, moderator valve, used in France and early U.S. installations until 1865
Weighted Piston
Starting in 1845, these systems used a heavy piston and a needle valve to control oil flow.
Lepaute’s Moderator Lamp
- Features: Chain and crank-lifted piston, automatic needle valve, adopted globally starting in 1860
Weighted Piston with Float
First seen in 1883, these lamps combined weighted pistons and float regulation for steadier oil delivery.
Funck Two, Three, and Five-Wick Moderator Lamps
- Features: Float-regulated piston system, enabling consistent flame control in complex lighting setups
Gas Lamps
Early attempts to use coal gas at lighthouse sites were largely unsuccessful due to the need for on-site gasification or access to pipelines, both impractical in remote locations. However, around the turn of the 20th century, acetylene gas—generated on-site from calcium carbide and water—became a more viable solution. Its safety and storage improved significantly with the invention of the dissolved acetylene process, which involved storing acetylene in acetone.
The use of acetylene revolutionized lighthouse lighting. Gustaf Dalén of Sweden led this innovation from 1900 to 1910. Acetylene lamps offered light equal to oil but with better control, allowing for automated, unattended operation. Dalén developed mechanisms operated by gas pressure, including a flashing apparatus (1905) that reduced gas consumption and a sun valve (1907) that automatically turned the light on at dusk and off at dawn.
These advancements enabled lighthouses to function unattended for up to a year. His inventions, including porous acetylene storage cylinders, greatly reduced handling risks. The acetylene system made it feasible to install automatic lighthouses in remote areas. Propane and other gases were later used, although most systems eventually transitioned to electricity.
Electricity and Modern Marine Beacons
- Incandescent Lamps
Electric lighting included high-power incandescent bulbs such as 1000-watt models used in later lighthouses. - Modern Marine Beacons
Newer marine beacons such as the VRB-25, VLB-44 LED beacon, and DCB-224 Aero Marine beacon replaced traditional Fresnel lenses. These beacons are self-operating and often feature automatic lamp changers. Many use clear glass fronts with polished reflectors or plastic Fresnel-style lenses. Their intensity can reach millions of candlepower.
Lamp Fuels Timeline
• Whale Oil (1720–1864)
• Lard Oil (1864–1884)
• Kerosene (1884–1955)
• Acetylene (1904–1980)
• Electricity (1898–Present)
Additional Innovations
- Argand Lamp (1782)
Developed by Swiss inventor Aimé Argand, the Argand lamp featured a circular wick and glass chimney for controlled combustion. It produced a brighter, smokeless flame and became the standard lighthouse lamp for more than a century. - Winslow Lewis Patent (1810)
Ship captain Winslow Lewis patented a modified Argand lamp in 1810 and sold it to the U.S. government. Though widely adopted, Lewis lamps were considered inferior to true Argand lamps. - Vaporized Oil Burner (1901)
Invented by Arthur Kitson and improved by David Hood, this system used vaporized kerosene mixed with air to ignite an incandescent mantle. It was six times more efficient than previous oil wick lamps.
Lens Rotation Methods
- Chariot Wheels
- Ball Bearings
- Mercury Floats
Lens Drive Methods
Clockworks
- Variations
- Regulators
- Electric Motors
Summary
With such technology as the Global Positioning System (GPS), the lighthouse can still be a source of comfort for mariners. It is hoped that they will continue to aid and comfort mariners, and that we will also continue to appreciate the beauty and history of these marine aids of the past.