Civil War Era Marine Signal Lantern, as in the Confederate H.L. Hunley Submarine (ON HOLD,DC)

This is another nice item being offered, it is a Civil War Marine Signal Lantern. It is made of tole tin with a fluted ventilator and a clear magnifying bullseye lens. A sliding finial on the bottom opens and closes an interior shield.

It measures 7 1/2” high with a 3 1/2” diameter base. There are two folding wire carrying handles on the back and a flat metal strip for hanging or putting on a belt. It has a very thick glass lens on the swinging front door which would magnify the light from the flame. The small tin with whale oil and a wick would be inside.

There is a near identical example of this lantern which was recovered inside the Confederate Submarine “H.L. Hunley” (see pictures). The crusted lantern was removed by archaeologists and x-rayed and now cleaned and displayed. It is said that this was possibly the one the crew used to signal that it sank the USS Housatonic on February 17th, 1864.

Another identified example of this type of lantern is in The Civil War Collectors Encyclopedia, by Francis Lord (see pictures). In Lord's description he states, “This lantern was carried by Sergeant Peck, 7th Connecticut Infantry and issued to him as special equipment for the amphibious assaults at Forts Fisher and Wagner”. There is also one in the Civil War National Museum in Harrisburg, PA (see pictures).

This lantern remains in solid condition, and still shows some of the original jappaned finish. It is truly a rare piece, so take advantage to add it to your Civil War collection.