1884-1885 No.00 Stone’s Lift Tubular

Prior to 1884, J.H. Stone supplied lanterns with no globe guard, meaning the glass was exposed and susceptible to being hit by objects and break. There was optional slide on guards, as seen on my 1878 Stone, or my 1870s Dietz lantern. These optional accessories weren’t perfect though, they cost more, could get lost, etc. Always an innovator, J.H. Stone patented a new design of lantern in 1884, one with a guard built into the lantern, getting rid of the need for an additional item. This guard was connected to the globe plate and held the globe firmly in place, so even if the globe fell out of the lantern, it was still protected. Whether or not a globe would survive a fall in the guard, is not something I’m willing to test out, however.

This new design manifested itself in the lantern below, the 1884-1885 No.00 lantern produced by J.H. Stone. This lantern has the globe guard he invented in 1884 and a globe plate that’s not connected to the lantern in any way. Obviously the globe falling out of the lantern was still an issue so in 1885, the design was updated to include a connection between the globe plate and the body of the lantern. Creating the first hinging Stone lantern that would become his most successful design. My lantern is the first model he made with a globe guard, and the last with a floating globe plate. Also of interest is the spring loaded retainer at the top of the globe. The simple pull tab on the top of the lantern allows the globe to be removed from the lantern. This is much the same as how cold blasts had their globe retainer, but over 10 years before cold blasts came onto the market. Stone used this same design in his No.0 lanterns of the same era, albeit simplified for his No.00 lanterns, as they’re much smaller. Also of note is the lack of fuel cap. Even though the spot was formed to put on, on the No.00 lanterns, stone did not add them until much later than the No.0 versions.

The lantern is in excellent shape for its age, and was originally nickel plated, which much still remains on the lantern. Sadly, the lantern is missing part of the chimney that deflected water away from the lantern. Unless I find a donor, which seems unlikely, this part will have to remain missing. The globe is the original J.H. Stone marked globe.