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 Fresnel Lenses
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Todd Shorkey WACKO Posts: 1068 |
posted 05-31-1998 01:56 PM
   
Here are some interesting facts about Fresnel Lenses: The Second Order Fresnel Lens from the White Shoal, MI lighthouse, now located in the Great Lakes Shipreck Museum at Whitefish Point, is: 9 feet in diameter
Most people don't realize just how massive some of these lenses were and still are.
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RMau Cruise Director Posts: 271 |
posted 08-29-1999 08:00 PM
And here's an interesting article from the August, 1999 issue of Smithsonian magazine on the lens and it's inventor. http://www.smithsonianmag.si.edu/smithsonian/issues99/aug99/object_aug99.html Rick |
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Mike Seewald WACKO Posts: 420 |
posted 08-30-1999 06:45 AM
Thanks to RMau for that link to the Smithsonian. It was a fascinating article. I always thougt fresnel lens were nice until I saw the one at Eatons neck up close. What a beautiful work of art they truly are. And I always stop and think that these were made by hand, no power tools, no Home Depot to run up to for supplies. I am amazed whenever I think of the work that went into creating them. |
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LamarB WACKO Posts: 987 |
posted 08-30-1999 11:35 AM
Thanks Rick. It is a fascinating article. |
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mombo Saint Posts: 3690 |
posted 08-30-1999 10:17 PM
The lens in the Prescott Inner Harbor light that I saw earlier this month was awesome, really hugh. According to American Lighthouses, A Comprehensive Guide by Bruce Roberts and Ray Jones: Although invented in 1822 the lenses were not used in the US until after 1852 due to their considerable expense and bureaucratic fussiness. Mombo |
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Art WACKO Posts: 1586 |
posted 08-31-1999 01:49 PM
"Bureaucratic fussiness" may be a euphemism for corruption, or at least ineptitude. Seems like Winslow Lewis (purveyor of obsolete parabolic reflectors) all but owned Stephen Pleasonton, the fifth auditor of the Treasury Department then in charge of lighthouses. The Lighthouse Board was established in 1852 and took over Pleasanton's duties. Mere coincidence? ------------------ |
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mombo Saint Posts: 3690 |
posted 08-31-1999 09:45 PM
Art, I gave the abrieviated version, without the names. You supplied them. Guess we've been reading the same book!  Mombo |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 08-31-1999 11:01 PM
Last month at the Shore Village Museum I had an interesting and enjoyable conversation about Fresnel Lenses with one of the staff. He was explaining that not only were the lenses each hand built, each and every part was individually hand made. Down to each and every screw used to hold the lens together! Seems they had to keep really good notes on what came from where. Screw "A" was threaded to only fit hole "A". Makes for a challenge. When you think about it, the Fresnel Lens is truly a marvel: beautiful to look at; amazing in design and construction; provides foundation for many things in use today. After some 175 or so years it still has not really been improved on. Ol' Auggie really hit on something here! Dave [This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 05-31-2002).] |
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JChidester Saint Posts: 5575 |
posted 09-01-1999 09:27 AM
From the new Internet Index of Lighthouse Links, here's a couple of pages on Fresnel lenses: |
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LADYBUG WACKO Posts: 306 |
posted 09-02-1999 10:54 AM
We recently visited the Westport Maritime Museum here in Washington and they have on display Destruction Island's first-order Fresnel lens. This lens has 1,176 prisms and 24 bullseyes. It was manufactured in 1888 and illuminated for the first time in 1891. It was removed from Destruction Island for security reasons in 1995. The Westport Maritime Museum launched a 3 year volunteer effort to raise funds and put up a new museum-quality building to house the lens. It is awesome to see. I have some pictures I would be happy to post if someone could tell me how to do it. Thanks. Darlene |
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AlanBeckman WACKO Posts: 140 |
posted 09-02-1999 07:33 PM
Diane and I recently made a swing through the Florida panhandle over to Ponce Inlet and up to Savannah where we photgraphed 14 lighthouses. The highlight was the Sapelo Island mini re-union but a close second was Ponce Inlet lighthouse museum. They have Cape Canaveral's first order fresnel lens mounted about 10 feet off the floor. It is lighted and is rotating. There is a balcony that allows you to go up to the same level as the bullseyes. It is beautiful! Diane shot almost a whole roll of film. If you are ever near Daytona Beach don't miss going to Ponce Inlet light. Alan |
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mombo Saint Posts: 3690 |
posted 09-02-1999 09:58 PM
I.O. was at Daytona last January and did not go to Ponce Inlet. After seeing all that is offered there I tried to convince him to go but did not succeed. Maybe this year, when he returns for his 12th Annual Old Foggies Golf Outing (or whatever they call it)! In light of his recent heart attack he needn't climb the tower.  [This message has been edited by mombo (edited 09-02-99).] |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 09-03-1999 12:40 AM
On our recent trip thru MD/VA and the Outer Banks we stopped at the Coast Guard Reserve Training Center at Yorktown, VA. This is also home to their ANT (Aids to Navigation) school. In the lobby they have a wonderful display of Fresnel lenses, in every size except 3 1/2 (or small 3 as they called it). Have several interesting clam shell or bi-valve lenses, including some in 3rd order size. The public is allowed to visit. Just need to stop at the gate and get a pass. Dave [This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 09-03-99).] |
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Robert M Dick WACKO Posts: 462 |
posted 09-03-1999 12:06 PM
Dave, thanks for the shots. I live only 20 min away. I'll see it next week. Did not know it was there. Moby |
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Wildbird99 WACKO Posts: 71 |
posted 09-04-1999 08:52 PM
I have to add another Fresnel link. This one's from my site. On the page, I have a brief description of Frsenel and his work, plus images of First, Second, Third, Third-and-One-Half Bivalve, Fourth, and Fifth Order lenses. as well as a Fresnel-type lens currently in use on one of the Orient Point ferries. I also show the effect that a Fresnel lens has on the light emitted from an old oil lantern from my own collection. I'm hoping to include a chapter on Fresnel and his lenses in my book. They really are timeless works of art. The page is at www.longislandlighthouses.com/fresnel.htm Bob Muller |
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mombo Saint Posts: 3690 |
posted 09-04-1999 10:11 PM
So is a bi-valve and a clamshell the same type lens? Mombo |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 09-05-1999 12:28 AM
Yes Can't do it. Was gonna be a smart guy and leave Mombo a one word answer. Bi-valve also called clam shell because they open like a _______ (you fill in the blank). Dave [This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 09-05-99).] |
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Art WACKO Posts: 1586 |
posted 09-05-1999 01:42 AM
Webster says: bi•valve (1) \"bi-'valv\ adjective: having a shell composed of two valves bivalve (2) noun: an animal (as a clam) with a 2-valved shell valve noun: 4: one of the distinct and usu. movably articulated pieces of which the shell of some shell-bearing animals consists "Clamshell" is a metaphor. By definition 1, "bivalve" actually describes the lens construction. Technically, the lens is a bivalve lens, but it is known in the vernacular as a clamshell lens. By definition 2, "bivalve" can also be used metaphorically, but it is more politically correct than "clamshell", since the latter excludes the shells of other bivalve mollusks such as mussels, scallops and oysters. clam noun 1 a : any of numerous edible marine bivalve mollusks living in sand or mud I hope this clears things up, but if it doesn't, blame it on the environment. -Art [Happy as an edible marine bivalve mollusk living in sand or mud][This message has been edited by Art (edited 09-05-99).] |
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Mark Wagner Cruise Director Posts: 797 |
posted 09-05-1999 02:13 AM
Anybody know which light this is from ? [This message has been edited by Mark Wagner (edited 09-05-99).] |
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JChidester Saint Posts: 5575 |
posted 09-05-1999 11:43 AM
Cape Canaveral's First Order lens on display at Ponce de Leon??? |
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Mark Wagner Cruise Director Posts: 797 |
posted 09-05-1999 03:35 PM
No, I haven't been to Florida....... yet |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 09-05-1999 11:53 PM
Grosse Point |
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mombo Saint Posts: 3690 |
posted 09-05-1999 11:55 PM
As long as we're showing off our lenses, here's my bivalve/clam: Warning: Don't toss out any unopened "clams noun 1 a" any place you visit frequently. They get very smelly! MOMBO [This message has been edited by mombo (edited 09-06-99).] |
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Mark Wagner Cruise Director Posts: 797 |
posted 09-06-1999 12:44 AM
No, Dave not Grosse Point but it is east of Grosse Point The picture is of the inside of the lens looking up [This message has been edited by Mark Wagner (edited 09-06-99).] |
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Bob M Saint Posts: 3308 |
posted 09-06-1999 07:02 AM
I must admit this forum on Fresnel Lenses is extremely interesting. Before I attended the HL Reunion in Providence last year, I didn't even know that "Fresnel" is pronounced "Fru-nell". How about one of you fine informative people taking a moment to list all the orders of Fresnel lenses with their dimensions. I'm sure there are many readers of this forum that would find it very interesting, including myself. |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 09-06-1999 10:31 PM
Bob, Fresnel lenses are found in 7 sizes- 1st thru 6th order, with a 3 1/2 thrown in to screw things up. My experience has been that many folks at lighthouses, including some of the nicer museums, do not realize there was a 3 1/2. This lense was made primarily for the Great Lakes. I will quote some info from Kenneth G. Kochel's book "America's Atlantic Coast Lighthouses": There is one active (and huge) hyperradial lens in the US. That one, on Makapuu Point, Oahu, Hawaii, has an 8 1/2' diameter and an overall height of 24 '. He goes on to say that at the start of 1998 there were 14 active landfall 1st orders: I'm not sure where he comes up with the ID of the various sizes, and whether this is an average or what. 1st orders can be 9' tall, and are quite impressive when viewed in a tower or in a museum setting. At the risk of being corrected, and without digging out the books, I don't think they ever put a 1st order in the GL. There are 2nd orders - think one at Grosse Point & White Shoals So much for todays history lesson. Oh, name of lense is pronounced fra-nell. Dave [This message has been edited by Dave H (edited 05-31-2002).] |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 09-06-1999 10:40 PM
Got me looking for more info- F. Ross Holland in his Great American Lighthouses book notes that the 3 1/2 order was the size least used by the US. There were 3 installed in Gulf Coast light towers. He also notes that when introduced, 1st & 2nd orders had 5 concentric wicks, 3rd order used 3 wicks, and a 6th order used 1 wick. He also states that the hyper-radiant lens at Makapuu Pt was 16' tall. Dave |
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Mark Wagner Cruise Director Posts: 797 |
posted 09-10-1999 02:11 PM
Just for the record, The picture I posted a little north of here was of the lens at Tybee Island. There was a small gap in the floor (about 2") of the lantern room where you could look up into the inside to the lens from the room below the lantern room. Didn't anyone recognize the 360 degree scenery thru the lens ? LOL Mark |
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Dave H Saint Posts: 2248 |
posted 09-10-1999 11:54 PM
Mark, Neat shot. Proves that it really pays off to keep your eyes open for creative and imaginative photo ops! Tybe is just a little east of Grosse Point! Dave |
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kscroope Cruise Director Posts: 603 |
posted 11-22-2001 08:18 AM
Here's a link to some information and pictures of Long Island's Lighthouse Lenses: http://www.lilighthousesociety.org/historicalcollection/lensresearch/default.htm ------------------ |
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kscroope Cruise Director Posts: 603 |
posted 11-22-2001 12:13 PM
Need experts on Fresnel lenses ladylightkeeper 6 09-23-1999 08:52 PM http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum1/HTML/000446.html ------------------ |
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kscroope Cruise Director Posts: 603 |
posted 11-25-2001 10:11 AM
1st Order Fresnel - Anyone know where you can buy one? Michael and Karen Power 3 07-07-1998 10:38 AM http://www.lighthousekeepers.com/forums/Forum5/HTML/000010.html |
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apanda Newbie Posts: 2 |
posted 11-28-2001 05:36 PM
I noticed an actual lighthouse fresnel lens for sale on ebay this week. Action ends Dec 2.I believe it is a fourth or fifth order fresnel. It was used in the Crowdy Head Lighthouse from about 1920 to 1970. Crowdy Head is 4 hours North of Sydney, the name is stamped on the reflector. The lens has 3 segments missing. This is a beautiful piece with only one chip. An extremely rare lens standing 40 inches high. Here is the link to the ebay auction item. I'd love to buy it myself but don't have a spare $15,000 at the moment. http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1490012717 I'd like to know what happens to this wonderful piece....if anyone finds out. Andy |
Greenwell Springs, LA
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