The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1896-07-07

A Valuable Patent Secured by Former
Resident of Town.
John r. Casey, of $50 Lafayette street.
Germantown, Philadelphia, has patented
signal lantern which promises to become
generally used on the railroads Of this
country. Experts have given the lamp at
tention and say it is the best that has been
produced Special local interest is taken in
the matter on account of the inventor being
a former Shenandoah young man. Mr.. Casey
was formerly employed in town and about
three years ago moved to Philadelphia. He
is at present employed as collector by the
firm of Gately & Fitzgerald of that city.
The Scientific American of July 4th de-
votes considerable space to the invention and
its details
The object of the invention is to provide
lantern which shall contain both red and
white shade, 50 arranged that either white
or a red light may be shown as desired and
the change made with greater speed ard GER
tainty than is possible with existing lamps.
The lamp consists essentially of a lower
body portion, which contains the oil reser-
voir, the base of the body being fared and
perforated for the supply Of air The oil cup
is provided with the usual burner, and it
carries a ring or casing in which is fixed the
base Of a white shade of the usual pattern.
Around the oil cup is arranged a cylindrical
red shade, which is made vertically adjust
able about the same. This shade is held in
metal frame consisting of a top and
bottom ring connected by vertical strips.
The top ring of the frame is provided with
small projecting lugs or guide strips which
travel in vertical sideways which run from
the dome of the lantern down to the outside
aunular ring which embraces the top of the
lower body Of the lantern. The red shade
frame is provided with a vertical rack for
raising and lowering the same, said rack
being operated by means of pinion and
wheel attached to the lower body of the
lantern. The top edge of the body of the
lantern is snugly embraced by a stout ring,
upon which are securely fastened setlof out
wardly bowed ribs which serve to protect the
shades and to carry the top dome. Extending
from the dome to the lower ring and vertical
sideways which receive the lugs on the red
shade frame and serve to guide the same in
its vertical movement The lower ring with
the attached ribs sideways and dome is
hinged horizontally to the top edge of the
lower body of the lantern and is provided
with a suitable latch, 50 that the upper halt
Of said lantern may be swung open
for lighting, cleaning etc, In opera
tion, if the brakeman desires to show
show white light, by means of the rack
and pinion he lowers the red shade entirely
within the lower body Of the lantern; if he
wishes to show a red light, he raises said
shade until it completely incloses the white
shade, and fills the space between the body
and dome of the lantern.
In constructing this lantern the inventor
has sought to provide First, lantern to dc
the work Of two ordinary lanterns; second
to provide a lantern exactly the same in size
and shape as the present standard railway
lantern; third to provide a lantern which
eau be lighted in the severest storm; fourth
to provide a lantern with a burner which
will allow the turning up or lowering of the
light from the outside without removing the
shades or any part of tho lantem