Digest>Archives> December 2001

Collecting Nautical Antiques

Lighthouse Brassware

By Jim Claflin

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Typical Light-House Establishment oiler or lamp ...

While sitting here sorting through some old papers, I came across a letter from a dealer written in 1997, offering me a 9 inch plate with the turquoise insignia of the US. Lighthouse Service. He indicated that he was asking $26.50 postpaid. After thinking for less than a few seconds I of course phoned him to accept his kind offer. Watching similar plates today sell in the $300+ range I often get a bit nostalgic for the “good old days.” This does point out the fact that though such items are becoming more and more valuable today with prices continuing to climb.

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U. S. Light-House Establishment oil can markings ...

An area of considerable interest continues to be U. S. Lighthouse Service brassware. A countless variety of items were produced over the years, most being manufactured in the General Light-House Depot at Staten Island. In addition to lamps and burners, brassware included oil measures in five sizes from one gill up to one gallon as well as a graduated one gallon measure. Brass cans included 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 gallon sizes, bulk transfer cans, lamp filling cans (in two sizes) and more. Other items included funnels, hand lanterns, drip pan with tray, dustpan, keeper’s lamp service basket and more.

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U. S. Lighthouse Service oil can markings c.1900.

As I mentioned, by far most of these items were manufactured by the metal-smiths at the lamp shop in the Staten Island Depot and were always of the finest quality. Each and every item issued by the service was marked in some fashion - from paintbrushes to toilet paper holders, oil cans to reading material. Items issued to the stations were expected to be maintained in proper order and the keepers were held accountable yearly for each item used or damaged.

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U. S. Lighthouse Service silverplate cup lid ...

Wooden items might be marked by stamping with the letters “U.S.L.H.E.” (or “S”) on the handle, or in the case of the station medicine chest and toolbox, a brass plate would be mortised into the lid of the chest and attached with brass screws. The letters “U. S. Light House Establishment” would be professionally engraved onto the brass plate.

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Dietz lantern with U. S. Lighthouse Service ...

Cans and other brassware would be marked with one or two period markings. Prior to about 1900 when the term “Lighthouse Service” began to replace “Light-House Establishment,” items would be marked using a horizontal “U.S.” over “Light House” over “Establishment”, or with one of two oval markings: “U.S.L.H. Depot Lamp Shop Staten Island” or “U.S.L.H. Depot 3 Dist. Lamp Shop Staten Island, NY.” Often one finds the first marking and one of the oval markings on the same piece. After about 1900 we find pieces being marked using the terms “U. S. Lighthouse Service,” commonly in capital letters. Marking was usually done using special dies before the pieces were assembled and soldered so it is not uncommon to find it on the curved surfaces on the side of a can, as well as on the bottom. This marking, when found on the curved surface, generally confirms authenticity as it probably could not be properly reproduced today.

Interestingly, we have found a number of silverplate dinnerware items including a “table butler” and a covered cup bearing the engraved insignia of the Lighthouse Service. The image included a lighthouse within circle, and the words: “UNITED STATES LIGHTHOUSE SERVICE,” similar to that used on the later dinnerware and probably dates after 1895 or so.

A few items were purchased by the Lighthouse Service and thus could not be marked before assembly. In this instance an oval brass cartouche would be stamped and applied to the surface using solder. In the case of the lantern, the cartouche is embossed “U.S.L.S.”, or “U.S.L.H.S. No. 2” (two styles of lanterns were issued). I recent came across a brass oiler or lamp filling can in a smaller size than is common, with an applied cartouche bearing the oval Staten Island Lamp Shop marking. However you find them, insure that the marking is uniform and straight and is of the expected high quality.

In future columns we will talk more about types of brassware and their uses. Next month we will take a look at stereoviews, and answer some questions from our readers.

Please continue to send in your questions on the subject or a photograph of an object that you need help dating or identifying. We will include the answer to a selected inquiry as a regular feature each month in our column.

Jim Claflin is a recognized authority on antiques of the U.S. Lighthouse Service, Life-Saving Service, Revenue Cutter Service and early Coast Guard. In addition to authoring and publishing a number of books on the subject, Jim is the owner of Kenrick A Claflin & Son Nautical Antiques. In business since 1956, he has specialized in antiques of this specialty since the early 1990’s. He may be contacted by writing to him at 30 Hudson Street, Northborough, MA 01532, or by calling 508-393-9814. You may also contact him by email: jclaflin@lighthouseantiques.net or visit his web site at www.lighthouseantiques.net

This story appeared in the December 2001 edition of Lighthouse Digest Magazine. The print edition contains more stories than our internet edition, and each story generally contains more photographs - often many more - in the print edition. For subscription information about the print edition, click here.

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