How it works
A lantern is a light with its flame enclosed, so that wind cannot blow it out and it can be carried. This drawing names twelve parts of a kerosene hurricane lantern.
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From the fount to the hood
Fuel is poured into the fount through the filler cap. The burner sits on the fount and holds the wick, which draws the fuel up to the flame. Turning the wick regulator raises or lowers the wick and changes the size of the flame. The globe shields the flame, inside its guard wires. The globe lift lever raises the globe so the wick can be lit. Air warmed by the hood runs down the two side tubes to the burner. The handle, or bail, is for carrying.
- Fount or font? Both spellings are used for the fuel tank.
- Two controls stick out at the sides: the knob turns the wick, the lever lifts the globe.
Questions and answers
What are the parts of a lantern called?
On a kerosene lantern: the fount, or fuel tank, with its filler cap; the burner, wick and wick regulator; the glass globe and its guard wires; the side tubes; the hood; and the wire handle, or bail.
What is the glass on a lantern called?
The globe. It shields the flame from wind. On a table lamp the tall glass is called a chimney, and some people use that word for a lantern globe too.
What is the bottom of a lantern called?
The fount, also spelled font. It is the tank that holds the fuel. The burner is fixed on top of it, and the wick hangs down into the fuel.
What is the handle of a lantern called?
A bail. It is the wire hoop that arches over the top, used for carrying the lantern or hanging it from a hook.