Lantern
A lantern is the combination of a self-illuminating light source and a wind or rain protection. Protection against the weather and dust or mechanical stress is what makes the permanent, low-maintenance operation of a light source outdoors possible in the first place. The assembly of lanterns on light poles is particularly common for street lighting . The component of a lighthouse containing the illuminant is also referred to as a lantern.
history
Lanterns were already in use in the early Middle Ages. A light source, usually a candle, more rarely a small oil lamp , was placed in a metal frame, the side surfaces of which were formed by thinly scraped horn plates or, at that time, more elaborately by glass or crystal discs. They were used to hang up in living rooms, as a carried light source on dark paths ( night watchmen ) and as signals on ships. There were also pure tin lanterns with many holes in the (mostly round) body to let air in and light out. Wrought iron hanging lanterns were the subject of artistic training in the 16th century.
After entire rows of houses burned down in many villages, strict regulations were issued in the 18th century under Count Palatine Karl IV to prevent a fire , which also regulated the use of lanterns in accordance with regulations.
Lantern techniques
Various techniques are used as light sources :
- The children's lantern , which is usually made of cardboard and colored, transparent paper when the lantern is running on St. Martin's Day , is operated with a candle or a battery-operated light bulb (see also lantern ). Historically, this is a reproduction of the kind used by the medieval night watchman in the cities as an aid. This model was typically made of metal and glass.
- Lanterns that can soar and float due to their lightweight construction and the heat of a local fire are called Kong Ming lanterns .
- Miners and cave explorers used lanterns in the past and in some cases still today. Candles or oil were sometimes used, but later models with carbide, which forms gas under moisture, were also used (see carbide lamp ). Because of the omnipresent danger of a mine explosion (firedamp ) due to natural gas formation in the tunnel, the lantern had to be completely encapsulated and thus explosion-proof. However, this encapsulation was by no means impermeable, but instead implemented using metal meshes. First, the flame needed air to burn and, second, a blue border around the flame indicated the presence of explosive gases. Flames don't hit metal nets, so the construction was safe. Nowadays, most people use electrical lighting that can be completely sealed.
- The seaman knows the ship's lantern and the position lantern , which his ship has to show (guide) according to legal regulations from sunset to sunrise or during the day when the weather is not visible. In the past, kerosene lamps also produced these light sources on board , today incandescent lamps or other electrical light sources do this .
- Gas lanterns were used to illuminate streets with gas until around 1960 , but are now only in use in a few cities. In the camping and outdoor area, gas lanterns are still used, which are usually fed from gas cylinders and gas cartridges .
- The kerosene high- power light lantern creates a very bright light in a mantle by burning thermally evaporated liquid fuel.
- The orange-colored light of the sodium vapor lamp ( metal vapor lamp ) is often used for high-contrast illumination of intersection areas or pedestrian crossings.
- In many cases, the individual lighting fixtures used in street lighting are referred to as lanterns. ( see: lantern garage )
See also
- Avenue of wrought iron lanterns
- Lantern running
- Chinese Lantern Festival
- Ramadan lantern
- lamp
- Arc lamp candelabra from Potsdamer Platz
literature
- Johann Georg Krünitz: Economic Encyclopedia or General System of State, City, House and Agriculture. Volume 65: Lar – Lauer. Berlin: Pauli, 1794, pages 351-523, pdf .
Web links
Individual evidence
- ^ Franz-Josef Sehr : The fire extinguishing system in Obertiefenbach from earlier times . In: Yearbook for the Limburg-Weilburg district 1994 . The district committee of the Limburg-Weilburg district, Limburg-Weilburg 1993, p. 151-153 .