USLHS - Long Island Chapter Lens Research

The Long Island Chapter actively researches the history of historic lighthouse lenses and lamps. As part of this research, we have documented the lenses and currently on Long Island, and those formerly on Long Island for which the current location is known or any photographs exist. These are listed below. Use the hyperlinks in the first column to see photos and more information about some of the lenses and - more photos and information will be added as we conduct our research.

Link to Photo and more Information	Type of Lens/Lamp	Current Location	Former Location	Manufacturer / Country of Origin	Approximate Date of Mfr.	Notes
0.	1st order group flashing, with IOV lamp	Unknown	Shinnecock Bay, 1918	Unknown	Unknown	Photo shows IOV lamp, reflector, classical lens
1.	1st order flashing classical 8 panel	Franklin Institute, Philadelphia	Fire Island lighthouse 1858-1933	Unknown/ France	1850s	Fire Island has tried to regain this lens several times
2.	2nd order fixed classical	East End Seaport Museum	Little Gull Island lighthouse 1869-1995	Unknown Mfr./ France	1860s	Very good condition
3.	3rd order fixed classical with reflector plate	Eaton's Neck lighthouse lantern room	Same since 1856	Henry-LePaute/ France	1850s	Only LI lighthouse with an active Fresnel lens
4.	3 1/2 order bivalve	Montauk Point museum	Montauk Point lantern room 1903-1987	Barbier, Benard & Turenne (BBT)/ France	1900	Beautiful condition (minor prism chipping) with windup clockworks
5.	4th order fixed classical	Horton Point museum	Unknown	L. Sautter/ France	1850s	One of the earlier Fresnel lenses in the US
5a.	4th order bivalve/classical, red/white flashing	Unknown	Race Rock lantern room	Unknown	Unknown	One of the more unusual lenses
6.	4th Order flashing 6 panel	East End Seaport Museum	Plum Island lighthouse 1897-1994	Barbier & Benard (B&B)/ France	1897	With operating windup clockworks
7.	4th order fixed flashing 4 panel	Fire Island museum	Unknown	Flashing Panels: MacBeth-Evans/US Fixed Panels: BBT/France	Post-1910	VERY UNUSUAL LENS Difference between French crown glass and American Flint Glass is obvious on this piece Markings: "U.S.L.H.S. No. 4-20"
8.	4th order flashing 6 panel	Montauk Point museum	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	One catadioptric prism missing Markings: "BF 56" With windup clockworks mechanism
9.	4th order flashing 4 panel	Montauk Point museum	Unknown	American Gas Accumulator (AGA)/ Elizabeth NJ	1933	"Type AGA 1140-A1" Serial No. 511 Prisms were made by BBT Only two panels on display
10.	5th order fixed classical with reflector plate 4 panel	Montauk Point museum	Unknown	Henry-LePaute/ France	Unknown	Chipping on some prisms - On display with 5th order lamp -
11.	375mm lens	Montauk Point museum	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Markings: "I.L.P. 768-4" and "No. 397" White lens with red cylinder to give red characteristic
12.	Incandescent Oil Vapor (IOV) Lamp	Montauk Point Museum	Montauk Point lighthouse lantern room	Unknown	Early 1900s?	One of few such artifacts on display

Special thanks are owed to the following people for their assistance with our lens and lamp research:

George Bacon, Chapter volunteer, for his research and photography;
Tom Taylor, Florida Lighthouse Association President, Ponce Inlet Lighthouse historian, and lighthouse author;
Thomas Tag, noted lamp and lens authority and author;
The Montauk Point lighthouse and museum;
The Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society;
Cliff Benfield, Horton Point's modern-day keeper, and National Lighthouse Center and Museum Trustee;
The East End Seaport Museum and Marine Foundation.