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A little over a hundred years ago, the
American Fire Service used a distinctive and defined system of
colored glass globes on their apparatus lanterns for
identification during emergency responses. It set an American
standard that was depended upon during nocturnal times of
alarms.
In the mid 1800’s electricity was
understood, but not harnessed for the standards that we enjoy
today. The early American firefighters relied on oil based
lanterns to illuminate both their fire wagons and their work
areas of an emergency scene at night. Surprisingly, oil based
lanterns could still be ordered as standard equipment on new
apparatus as of the initial 1950’s. All of FDNY’s underwritten
Civil Defense engines sported two lanterns each for use during
the nuclear fallout scare of that decade. Authorities felt that
there would be a total loss of available electricity and
incandescent service.
Lanterns of the 1800’s first became
adapted for hard service on the fire ground. Railroad and
marine lanterns were used and then modified. They needed to be
rugged and withstand temperature extremes, windy conditions and
the ever present water situation found on the fireground.
Finally the Dietz Lantern Company perfected the “Fire King” and
a new standard was set. The Fire King was of solid brass,
copper, and/or steel (tin) construction. It had a large bail
(handle), so a fireman could slide the lantern over this forearm
and permit his hands to carry another tool. The Fire King also
had a guard of circling wires around the glass globe to prevent
damage occurring from the bumpy conditions encountered during
emergency work.
The most notable part of the lantern was
the water shield near the top of the lantern. A two inch wide
band protected the chimney area from receiving too much water
spray from a nearby fire hose stream and knocking out the
lantern flame. Eventually this band gave rise to a symbol of
fire service art and oblation.
Major fire equipment manufacturers
subsequently contracted with Dietz and had their name plate logo
stamped on the band. American La France and Seagrave were large
purchasers of Dietz lanterns with their respective company
symbols so boldly engraved and displayed. It was a matter of
pride and a recognized status of professionalism to incorporate
this final touch to a piece of fire apparatus with add-on
accessories that came from their competing factories.
Initially all of the lanterns made and
carried were fitted with a clear glass globe. Then someone
connected with the fire service felt that a lit lantern could
also serve as a means of identifying both fire apparatus and key
positions of fire service members. The railroads of that era
were already using colored glass to promote safety and train
ascertainment, especially when specials and express service
prevailed. Thus the idea of colored lantern globes came about.
It is not recorded as to the commencing time frame of the first
introduction of defined colors, but a new nationwide standard
swept across our country once the colored globes appeared. And
of course, the major fire apparatus manufacturers were placing a
minimum of two respectively colored lanterns per rig, which in
turn contributed to their wide scale use.
Hose and chemical apparatus carried red
globed lanterns. Steamers were blue. Trucks or hook-n-ladder
companies displayed green lanterns. There were also some split
colored lanterns, but limited in production and only carried by
officers.
The split colored lanterns told of who was
who in the darkness. A steamer captain kept a blue over clear
globe lantern with him. There was only one red over clear
lantern globe and that was carried by the Chief Engineer or Fire
Chief. These members never left their rigs without their
esteemed and burning lantern in their hand at nighttime alarms.
The reason for the clear portion being on the bottom of the
globe was so they could have some light shining on their
pathways or to view something of critical importance that they
encountered on the fireground.
It should be obvious that a clear lantern
globe was used for illuminating the emergency scene, and for
carrying inside a structure to perform search and rescue. These
lanterns hung on various positions of the apparatus and one of
the routine details of the assigned members was to wipe clean
the globe glass daily and ensure that the wick was of proper
length. The oil reservoir was always kept full. A required
duty of a junior member of a company would be to light the
colored apparatus lanterns before retiring at night. No delay
in response was to occur.
A unique lantern globe not common on the
fire ground was of a gold or bright yellow color. This lantern
belonged to the department’s treasurer. It was imperative that
he would come out to the scene of major alarm fires and
ascertain if above normal expenses were going to be incurred.
At major alarms, various items like damaged hose, extra coal for
the steamers, meals and refreshments for the men, or the
quartering of horses at a warm nearby stable on a cold bitter
winter night required his presence. There were plenty of bills
to be paid and accounted for. If some merchant asked a nearby
fireman who was he to see about getting paid for his product or
services, the member would just direct the vendor to find the
man with the gold tinted lantern.
Now those who collect fire memorabilia
know the limitations of finding a treasurer’s lantern. Since so
few of these department administrative members and positions
existed, it is an absolute fact that a finite number of golden
colored globes were made and probably exist to this day. Supply
and demand contribute to this circumstance. Thus, at both fire
service related and early Americana themed flea markets and
auctions, one can expect to pay a very premium price for this
rare treasure.
Now here is where we must place ourselves
in the boots of these early smoke eaters. On a nighttime
response, firefighters could look in the distance and see a
matched pair of colored globes coming toward them from extra
alarm companies. If they saw a green set, then they knew a
ladder company was responding. A blue arrangement told of a
steam engine coming their way, and so forth. Since portable
radios were yet a full century of invention away, this system
worked quite well for these early smoke eaters. It gave them a
defined means of recognizing what fire company was coming to
their aid.
It is still remarkable to look back on the
early history of our firefighting forefathers and see how they
adapted, invented, and eventually started a new tradition or
procedure. The passing of the fire service lantern into
history gives credence that our profession was and still remains
unique.
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