LANTERN PATENT INFORMATION

THE PROJECT:
This is an another ongoing W.T. Kirkman project, and as such, is by no means complete.  This page is intended for the enjoyment, and further enlightenment, of those interested in the numerous developments made in the field of Tubular Lantern construction, and the inventors to whom we are indebted.  The idea for this page came after a certain addition to the private collection of  W.T. Kirkman;  An actual one-of-a-kind patent model for a method of construction for tubular lanterns by John H. Irwin, inventor of the Hot Blast principle, and father to the tubular principle.  The patent model was submitted to the U.S. Patent Office on August 24, 1869, and was granted Patent #99,442 on February 1, 1870.  While John H. Irwin never saw this lantern style produced in his lifetime, it is the basis for the 1914 Warren McArthur design patent D45266, which inspired the 1936 Ruth Gerth and Joseph Sinel Art Deco design patent D101112 for the "Streamline" style Monarch.   (It is believed that more Dietz Streamline Style Monarch Lanterns were produced between 1936 and 1956 than any other single lantern model.)  

The documents for the patent numbers listed below can be accessed at the Google Patent Search Page.
Simply type the patent number into the search prompt.

Several hours have been spent compiling the information contained herein, however, no guarantee is made or implied as to the accuracy or completeness.  Should you have "first hand" information that should be included here, including additional information, and information to the contrary, you are welcomed to e-mail it to us.  

Special thanks goes to author Linda Black for her assistance in this ongoing project,
and also to Phil Embury for sharing the results of his countless hours of research.
 
Additional thanks to The International Guild of Lamp Researchers. 

This information has been compiled and is published for the benefit of collectors and dealers alike, you may print a copy of this list for your own use, you may also post links to this page, but by using this site, you signify your assent to our "Conditions of Use."

IMPORTANT NOTES:
Do not confuse the "M" or "S" production dates with a patent date when looking at a Dietz Lantern.  To determine the month and year of manufacture on most Dietz lanterns made between 1915 and 1956, look at the "M" or "S" production date located under the patent dates, usually located on the upper part of the right air tube on cold blast lanterns, on the center air tube on Hot Blast lanterns, or on the lid on Dietz Vesta lanterns. 
 
"M" denotes Dietz New York City "Main" Factory #1, while "S" denotes Dietz Syracuse Factory #2, which is followed by the month and year of production.  (i.e. "S-6-41" stands for Syracuse Factory #2, June of 1941, "M-1-25" stands for New York City Factory #1, January 1925.)  Stamping Patent and Production dates into Dietz lanterns was abandoned in 1956, coinciding with the establishment of the Hong Kong factory. 

Lantern production ceased in the New York City "M" Factory #1 in 1931, and in the Syracuse "S" Factory in 1970.

  DIETZ CEASED STAMPING PATENT DATES AND PRODUCTION CODES INTO THEIR LANTERNS IN 1956.

IF YOUR LANTERN IS FACTORY PAINTED, AND DOES NOT HAVE ANY PATENT MARKINGS, IT WAS MOST LIKELY MADE AFTER 1956. 

IF YOUR DIETZ LANTERN IS MARKED "N.Y.U.S.A." THEN IT WAS MADE BEFORE 1970