"Improved" Tubular Square Lamp No. 3

Dietz Tubular Square Lamp No. 3 (1880-1887)

  This particular square tubular is the earlier version. In 1887 the "Improved" Tubular Square Lamp No. 3 was introduced and made until 1914. The early version does not have an external wick adjustment and the construction of the bottom air chamber is more complex than in the improved lantern. The improved lantern would be less expensive to make and has a bug screen under the fount platform. Also the early lantern has no wire clips to hold the fount in place like the improved lantern has. The improved square tubular is painted blue while the original color of the early model is a dark green. Finally, the air tubes were moved from the sides to the rear corners where they would not cast a shadow. Tubular Square No. 3

  This lantern is in very good condition for it's age. A previous owner had stripped the original paint, exposing the tin plate. Enough samples of the original paint remained for color matching. I recognized the color from my oil painting days, it's Phthalocyanine Green. The tin was in fine condition where it had been covered and only tarnished at all chips in the paint. When received, the lantern was recently painted with copper spray paint. Only the outside was painted at the factory so the interior is either tarnished tin or iron oxide where the tin burned away in the chimney. The internal hot gas collector took most of the heat leaving the chimney and crown in very good condition. Other condition problems include a dented rear corner. Judging by the tarnish on the tin, the dent occurred long ago. The two rear feet were missing, possibly from the same accident. Both side air tubes show serious dents but they are always in harms way. The three glass panes had been replaced.

  The 12 inch silvered glass reflector is in near perfect condition. One unusual feature is the crown marking. It is clearly the original part but marked "Dietz No. 3 Globe Tubular." Apparently there was not sufficient production of the Square Tubular to warrant a different die for the top. The front panel is marked "DIETZ TUBULAR SQUARE LAMP No. 3." The flip type fill cap is marked "PATD MAY 2, '71 & JAN 11 '76." The burner is identical to the No. 3 Globe Street Lamp. The fount is nearly identical to the fount in the Number 2 Square Tubular but is not interchangeable. The wick adjust is marked "DIETZ No. 3 TUBULAR" and the fount has an unmarked timer. Tubular Square No. 3

  This lantern contained 113 years of dirt, bugs, and mud wasp nests. The first order of business was to clean the lantern and strip the copper paint. Normally, I clean my lanterns in the kitchen sink but the Number 3 (at 13" deep, 16" wide, and 27" tall) would never fit. My bathtub was the only container large enough to half submerge Dietz's largest lantern. Special attention was paid to making sure all three air tubes were clear of obstruction. Once clean some of the dents were removed and some left untouched. Two rear feet were fabricated and one wrinkled strip of glass retainer was replaced. The feet are a simple truncated cone of tin. Since the original paint was gone, Enamel paint was mixed to match the original chips. The lantern was masked as it was at the factory. Only the outside was repainted.

  The burner was cleaned and a new wick installed. It took some time to find the correct height for the wick. I finally had to spread the wick to reduce the dome opening and increase the draft. The lantern has burned for several hours with only minor smoke. Tubular Square No. 3

The original price for a Dietz Improved Tubular Square Lamp No. 3 in 1898 was $8.50.

This particular square tubular is the earlier version. In 1887 the "Improved" Tubular Square Lamp No. 3 was introduced and made until 1914. The early version does not have an external wick adjustment and the construction of the bottom air chamber is more complex than in the improved lantern. The improved lantern would be less expensive to make and has a bug screen under the fount platform. Also the early lantern has no wire clips to hold the fount in place like the improved lantern has. The improved square tubular is painted blue while the original color of the early model is a dark green. Finally, the air tubes were moved from the sides to the rear corners where they would not cast a shadow.
	This lantern is in very good condition for it's age. A previous owner had stripped the original paint, exposing the tin plate. Enough samples of the original paint remained for color matching. I recognized the color from my oil painting days, it's Phthalocyanine Green. The tin was in fine condition where it had been covered and only tarnished at all chips in the paint. When received, the lantern was recently painted with copper spray paint. Only the outside was painted at the factory so the interior is either tarnished tin or iron oxide where the tin burned away in the chimney. The internal hot gas collector took most of the heat leaving the chimney and crown in very good condition. Other condition problems include a dented rear corner. Judging by the tarnish on the tin, the dent occurred long ago. The two rear feet were missing, possibly from the same accident. Both side air tubes show serious dents but they are always in harms way. The three glass panes had been replaced.
The 12 inch silvered glass reflector is in near perfect condition. One unusual feature is the crown marking. It is clearly the original part but marked "Dietz No. 3 Globe Tubular." Apparently there was not sufficient production of the Square Tubular to warrant a different die for the top. The front panel is marked "DIETZ TUBULAR SQUARE LAMP No. 3." The flip type fill cap is marked "PATD MAY 2, '71 & JAN 11 '76." The burner is identical to the No. 3 Globe Street Lamp. The fount is nearly identical to the fount in the Number 2 Square Tubular but is not interchangeable. The wick adjust is marked "DIETZ No. 3 TUBULAR" and the fount has an unmarked timer.
	This lantern contained 113 years of dirt, bugs, and mud wasp nests. The first order of business was to clean the lantern and strip the copper paint. Normally, I clean my lanterns in the kitchen sink but the Number 3 (at 13" deep, 16" wide, and 27" tall) would never fit. My bathtub was the only container large enough to half submerge Dietz's largest lantern. Special attention was paid to making sure all three air tubes were clear of obstruction. Once clean some of the dents were removed and some left untouched. Two rear feet were fabricated and one wrinkled strip of glass retainer was replaced. The feet are a simple truncated cone of tin. Since the original paint was gone, Enamel paint was mixed to match the original chips. The lantern was masked as it was at the factory. Only the outside was repainted.
The burner was cleaned and a new wick installed. It took some time to find the correct height for the wick. I finally had to spread the wick to reduce the dome opening and increase the draft. The lantern has burned for several hours with only minor smoke.