DUE TO NON PAYMENT FROM BUYER I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO RELIST THIS ITEM. AFTER READING THEIR response IT WASN\'T THE FIRST TIME. BUT THATS OKAY BECAUSE THERE WAS SOME ERROR IN THE LISTING THAT I NEEDED TO CORRECT AND NEVER GOT A CHANCE TO BECAUSE I GOT A offer SOONER THAN I EXPECTED. I AM STARTING THE offerDING AT ONLY A CENT. HAVE FUN offerDING.THIS sale IS FOR AN AMERICAN LA FRANCE FIRE ENGINE CO. LANTERN. A VERY RARE FIND INDEED. THIS LANTERN HAS NOT BEEN RESTORED IN ANY WAY OTHER THAN A LIGHT FEATHER DUSTING TO GET RID OF THE LIGHT DUST THAT WAS ON THE LANTERN. THERE ARE SPOTS ON THE LANTERN WHERE YOU CAN SEE SHINY BRASS PEEPING THROUGH SO IF YOU DID WANT TO RESTORE I\'M SURE YOU COULD BUT I KIND OF LIKE THE SOMEWHAT WORN PATINA LOOK MYSELF. THIS LANTERN IS PATENTED AUGUST 27TH 1907, THERE IS A STAMP ON THE LANTERN BUT HAD A REALLY HARD TIME CAPTURING IT IN A PHOTO BECAUSE THE DARK PATINA WHERE ITS STAMPED AND THE LIGHTING I HAD WHEN TAKING THE PHOTOS BUT I ASSURE YOU IT IS ON THERE. I WILL ATTEMPT TOMORROW (8/21) TO ADD THE STAMP PATENT PHOTO. SO PLEASE WATCH THIS LISTING IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO BE UPDATED.
THE GLOBE ON THIS LANTERN IS MORE TEAL THAN GREEN, WHEN LIT THE IT WILL TURN GREEN. THE GLOBE; WHEN NOT LIT, IS A REALLY DEEP BEAUTIFUL TEAL COLOR. IT IS HARD FOR YOUR EYES NOT TO WANDER TO THE COLOR BECAUSE IT REALLY STANDS OUT. THERE IS NO RUST ON THIS LANTERN, JUST NATURAL WEAR WITH AGE. I RECEIVED THIS LANTERN FROM A SOURCE I CAN NOT NAME BUT HE WORKED FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS PASSED DOWN THROUGH THE GENERATIONS. I DO BELIEVE THEY REALLY KEPT THIS THING IN GOOD SHAPE. THERE IS NO RUST AND ALL LOOKS REALLY GOOD.THIS IS THE ORIGINAL GLOBE TO THIS LANTERN AS WAS TOLD TO ME BY THE PREVIOUS OWNER. WHILE IT STATES THE PATENT IS AUGUST 27TH 1907 ON THIS LANTERN, THESE LANTERNS WERE PRODUCED UNTIL 1939. THE LOC-NOB GLOBE WAS NOT PRODUCED UNTIL 1915, SO THE DATE OF THIS LANTERN WOULD BE BETWEEN 1915-1939, 1939 BEING THE DATE THIS MODEL WAS DISCONTINUED. HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO THE ORIGINAL OWNER HE STATED THAT THE LANTERN IS FROM AROUND 1920. IF YOU GO TO THE LAST OR SECOND TO LAST PHOTO IN THIS sale YOU WILL SEE A \"C\" ON THE LANTERN GLOBE, THAT IS A CODE FOR CORNING GLASS WHICH INDICATED THE GLASS ORIGINATED FROM CORNING, NEW YORK.HERE ARE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COLOR CODES FOR THESE LANTERNSWHITE: General Illumimation
RED: Chief Engineer, or Danger/ Do Not Cross Hoses
BLUE: Assistant Chief Engineer, or Volunteer Company
GREEN: (Foreman) (THIS LANTERN)
AMBER/YELLOW: Assistant Foreman, or Chief HosemanTHE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS SOURCED FROM WWW.LANTERNNET.COM REGARDING THIS LANTERN MODEL. *NOTE MANY OF THESE LANTERNS WERE NOT DIRECTLY TIED TO ANY FIRE DEPARTMENT LIKE THE LANTERN I AM LISTING, HOWEVER THIS MORE IN REFERENCE TO THE MODEL \"KING FIRE DEPARTMENT\" LANTERNS:The Dietz King Fire Dep\'t lantern was made in two distinct versions, the more familiar style with a hinged cagewas introduced in 1906, and is related to patent 864414 issued on Aug 27, 1907. The older style was first introduced around 1900, and utilized the older \"Drop-Down\" cage designwhich is attributed to Fred Dietz\' patent 395489from January 1, 1889, which was used on the predecessor fire departmentlanternsin the 1890\'s. The King was offered in Solid Brass, Nickel Plated over Solid Brass, and Copper Fount with Tin Frame versions. A common variation was the Copper Fount version painted Red, either entirely, or just the frame. All versions of the King were made with double wall constructed founts, using an inner tank wall made of dipped tin. This type of construction insured that the fount would not leak in the event thebrass or copper should crack or be damaged, something common for the softer materials. For this reason, when holding a magnet to the fount of a King, it will attract to the inner wall made of tin. Thiscan be confusing when trying to determine what the fount is made of when examining a lantern that has been painted. While it\'s use declined in the 1930\'s, the King was offered in the Dietz price lists into the 1940\'s, although it is believed production ceased around 1939. Over the course of 40years, thousands of KingFire Dep\'t Lanterns were produced for fire departments all over the world, so they cannot truly be classified as a \"Rare\" item. What is rare is to find the King in pristine, undamaged condition. Even so,the Kingand most all fire department lanterns in any conditiontend to command a high price now as they are highly desirable by both lantern collectors and retired or active firemen alike.IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ASK. I WILL ALWAYS GIVE MY HONEST RESPONSE AND ANY response YOU HAVE IS WELCOME. I HAVE 100% SELLER response FEEL FREE TO CHECK OUT WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID ABOUT THE ITEMS I HAVE LISTED IN THE PAST.I WILL SHIP INTERNATIONALLY. PLEASE INQUIRE FIRST THOUGH AS SHIPPING WILL NOT BE FREE FOR INTERNATIONAL BUYERS.FREE SHIPPING!!