Bulls-Eye Lanterns

[YankeeSergeant]

How effective were the Bulls-eye lanterns constables carried in 1888? were they of any use or basically useless weight as Cornwell implies in her book?

[Monty]

Ok, when one considers the alternative.

The beam can be seen at a fair distance, and its ok up close. They do get hot though. Very handy in winter.

I've a video somewhere.

Monty

[GUT]

They were what they had by today's standards poor.

Like comparing a kerosene camping lantern with a 100w electric light, no contest.

But by no means totally useless.

They were using something pretty similar in mining at the same time.

[pinkmoon]

I know Patricia cornwell did some research in her portrait of a killer book she used a darkend warehouse and tested to effecttiveness of a bulls eye lantern and the results aren't to good as far as I can remember I've since thrown the book away so can't double check the exact results.

[Monty]

My lamp

Just some images of my lamps.

Monty

[Monty]

Ah.

...Ive found the video.

Short but sweet.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mOEPlbbAvo

Monty

[Robert]

Monty, were these lamps alight throughout the beat, but dimmed and undimmed according to circs?

[Monty]

Yes Robert,

There was a shutter on them which closed the light off, however a quick flick of the switch opens the shutter to allow the beam to shine.

When Watkins states his lamp was on and open, he means it was lit and the beam was showing.

Monty

[Robert]

Thanks Monty.

[Batman]

When is a beer can not a can? When its a lamp.

http://forum.casebook.org/showthread.php?t=8807

You might like this.

[pinkmoon]

These little snippets are very interesting it helps explain away our killers super human powers that he used to avoid detection.

[Ginger]

Just some images of my lamps.

Monty

Oh, fascinating! That fancy tubular structure at the top keeps the lantern casing from getting hot enough to burn your hand, I suppose? Where is the slide that darkens the lantern? How does that work?

[Hakeswill]

I always liked the idea of having some kind of JTR glossary for some of these Victorian items. Sometimes I'll read something relating to the case as if it something everyone would immediately understand, like billycock hats, stays and Astrakhan. I know these things can be looked up, but it would be nice to have an (authentic) area somewhere to visualise and explain these terms and items. Additionally, things like Monty's lamp video are useful in understanding conditions in the C19. I've always wondered what the street lamps were like; area of illumination and colour saturation for example.

Or maybe it's just me.

[YankeeSergeant]

Thanks all

Thanks all! Hawkeswill, the glossary is a splendid idea! Now to find the time...