This is especially important in the transportation of the lantern from overseas to our warehouse, to our customers' warehouses, and then to the stores. Thicker glass also compliments the bevel which adds to the beauty and sparkle of the lantern. Phenolic or plastic sockets have a tendency to melt and distort over time making it difficult to replace burned out bulbs, as well as increasing the possibility of a fire hazard. Brass is made from two metals - copper and zinc. Discoloration of brass is primarily due to the oxidation of the copper in the brass.
Sea salt is a very corrosive substance to brass.
Therefore, the general testing method for determining how effective a lantern's finish will be, is to subject the lantern to sea salt spray for a period of approximately 96 hours. While not all lanterns are subjected to sea salt spray when installed, this testing method gives a benchmark as to the durability of the lantern's finish. In order to extend the beauty of the brass finishes on our lanterns, all of our lanterns are treated with a special protective coating - either a durable lacquer or powder coating. This will help to reduce the amount of visible tarnishing that is inherent in Polished Brass lanterns. Another alternative is to start with an Antique Brass or Verde Green finish.