Report for Fourteen Foot Bank (Delaware) - 1918
| General |
| District: | 4th |
| Inspector: | T.J Rout, Inspector |
| Location: | On Fourteen Foot Bank, on the westerly side of main ship channel in the lower Delaware Bay |
| Date of Report: | 03/17/1918 |
| Latitude: | 39° 02' 54" |
| Longitude: | 75° 10' 57" |
| Premises |
| Site: | In navigable water on Fourteen Foot Bank, Delaware Bay |
| Date of Reservation: | 02/16/1883 |
| Date of Deed: | |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | 9 98/100 acres |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Lighthouse surrounded by water |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Landing ladders lowered from 1st balcony of lighthouse |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By means of tenders, launches or other vessels. About 15 miles by boat to Bivalve, NJ.; about 13 miles to Bowers, Del. Keepers get mail at Lewes, Del. |
| Distance to Nearest Road: | |
| Distance to Post Office: | |
| Distance to Village: | |
| Facilities for Public Conveyance: | |
| Facilities for Private Conveyance: | |
| Means Used for Support of Lantern: | Lantern tower on dwelling |
| Number of Separate Lights: | One |
| First Built or Established: | 1876 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1886 |
| Condition at This Date: | |
| Shape of Tower in Plan: | |
| Form of Tower: | |
| Height from Base to Ventilator Ball: | |
| Height of Focal Plane Above Mean High Water: | 59' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Sky |
| Color of Tower: | Black, by paint |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | |
| Tower Connection: | Lantern tower is on Keeper's dwelling |
| Object of Navigation: | Bay light for general navigation purposes; also channel light. |
| Building Materials: | Cast iron |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Wooden |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 10" x 22" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 check rail windows size of opening 24.5" wide x 50" high |
| Number of Doors: | 20; 1= 7' x 2' 6"; 19 = 6' 6" x 2' 6" |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | The light station is in good condition. |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 4th |
| Shape of Lantern: | Polygonal - 8 |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Vertical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 3' 0" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | One |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | One |
| Thickness of Plates: | About 1/4' thick |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 10 1/4" x 3' 0.5" |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron & copper |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Copper |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Copper |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Iron |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron, double doors, hinged & bolted |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Sheet steel door in floor of lantern hung on hinges & provided with a handle |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 4 |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | None |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Tapped into lintels of lantern |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | Has 4 windows, 1 cupboard, a closet & a ladder leading to the lantern; also has a coal stove for heating purposes |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | About 4.5 hours |
| Intensity in Candles: | White - 2300 CP, red 870 CP |
| Name of Maker: | Henry Le Paute, Paris |
| Year Made: | (not known) |
| Marks and Number: | # 400 USLHE; also Rue Desmonettes, Paris |
| Order of Apparatus: | 4th |
| Inside Diameter: | 19 3/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | Revolves once in 10 seconds |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | Lens is 360 degrees. It revolves once in 10 sec. |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | None |
| Arc of Each: | |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | 1 |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 8 |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 5 |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | False |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | Lens revolves on ball bearings once in 10 secs. eclipse is produced by a section of sheet brass fastened to the lens, covering the glass |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Standard 4 column pedestal - supports the clock |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | None |
| Revolving Machinery: | Lens revolves on ball bearings by means of a standard 4th order clock |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | 28' 10" high x 13" square |
| Clock Weight: | 288 lbs. |
| Length of Winding Time: | About 4.5 hours |
| Drive During Rewind: | No |
| Machinery Protection: | By a glass case |
| Regulated: | By a vertical 2 fan governor |
| Lens Protection: | No |
| How Color is Produced: | By red sector panes of glass |
| Red Sectors Description: | Red, W of 331 degress & 151 degrees, covering Brown & Joe Flogger Shoals |
| Where Color Attached: | Attached to lantern |
| Form of Colored Glass: | Red glass is at lantern panes |
| Lamp Description: | 35 mm Type B |
| Type of Illuminant: | I.O.V. |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 |
| Number of Spare Burners: | 1 |
| Candle Power: | 600 CP |
| Clock Cord Description |
| Revolving Cord: | Galv. steel |
| Size of Clock Cord: | 1/8" |
| Length of Clock Cord: | 125' |
| How Led: | Goes obliquely thru lantern floor to a travelling pulley on ceiling of watchroom, thence direct to the weight box |
| Diameter and Length of Clock Drum: | 4" diam. x 4" long |
| Chariot Balls |
| Balls Description: | V grooves |
| Cage to Separate Balls: | False |
| Number of Balls: | 19 |
| Diameter of Balls: | 1/2" |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | One Mantel |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 35 mm |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Occulting Light |
| Characteristic: | Occ. W 10 sec.; Light 8 sec, eclipse 2 sec |
| Time Limit: | Most any characteristic can be obtained by the addition of sheet brass elements |
| Eclipse Type: | |
| Size and Amplitude: | |
| Axis Rotation: | |
| Axis Relation: | |
| Screen Revolution: | |
| Screen Number: | |
| Screen Time: | |
| Screen Form: | |
| Screen Mounting: | |
| Screen Order: | 4th order clock is supported in pedestal. |
| Screen Date: | Not known. |
| Valve Maker: | |
| Valve Pattern: | |
| Reliability: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | Closet & cupboard in tower fitted with shelves |
| Oil House Description: | In basement - no shelves |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | 44" x 33" |
| Oil House Construction Material: | Brick |
| Oil House Capacity: | About 50, 5 gallon cans |
| Other (Describe): | Provision room in basement fitted with shelves, pantry of 1st floor with shelves, each used for provisions.There are 2 other closets on 1st floor & 5 on 2nd floor used for various storage purposes |
| Suitability: | Dry & suitable |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | 2nd class Daboll trumpet, operated by engine & compressor |
| Time to Start: | About 12 mins |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | No air under pressure |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 5 sec blast, 25 sec silent |
| Duplication: | There are no duplicate parts, but 2 separate sets of apparatus |
| Timing Device: | Cam wheel operated by a worm gear |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | 6 lbs |
| Height Above Water: | About 13.5 ' |
| Compass Direction: | Approx. N 67 degrees E |
| Location: | Fog signal locasted in basement of lighthouse with trumpet extending outward on channel side |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | By tanks in basement |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | In basement of lighthouse |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Not a separate building |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Internal Combustion Signal |
| Fog Signal Kind: | |
| Internal Combustion Kind: | 2 oil engines |
| Internal Combustion Manufacturer: | August Meitz |
| Internal Combustion Date: | 1916 |
| Internal Combustion Size: | Cyl. 6" x 6.5" |
| Internal Combustion Horsepower: | 4 HP |
| Internal Combustion Fuel: | Oil |
| Internal Combustion Starter: | By standard 3d Dist torch |
| Compressor Maker: | Ingersoll Sargeant Drill Co. |
| Compressor Seat: | Compressor separate & belt driven |
| Compressor Machinery: | Gravity cooling water system. Compressor is belt driven from the jack shaft. |
| Compressor Diameter: | |
| Compressor Stroke: | |
| Compressor RPMs: | |
| Character of Air Inlet: | |
| Kind of Unloader: | |
| Diameter of Delivery Pipe: |
| Daboll Signal |
| Daboll: | 2nd Class |
| Daboll Reed: | Steel |
| Daboll Length: | 12" |
| Daboll Breadth: | 3 1/4" |
| Daboll Base Thickness: | 3 1/4" |
| Daboll Tip Thickness: | 1/2" |
| Trumpet Signal |
| Trumpet: | |
| Trumpet Length: | About 8' |
| Trumpet Diameter: | Large end 24" |
| Trumpet Material: | Copper |
| Dwelling |
| Location: | Connected direct to tower |
| Coloring: | Black |
| Construction Materials: | Cast iron lined with wood |
| Number of Rooms: | 5 |
| Number of Dwellings: | |
| Heating Plant: | |
| Number of Keepers: | 3 |
| Furnished Quarters: | |
| NOT Furnished Quarters: | |
| Outhouses: | 2 cast iron privies |
| Outhouse Coloring: | Black |
| Paths and Walks: | None, except balcony |
| Area Inclosed: | None |
| Area of Garden: | None |
| Area Timber or Shrubbery: | |
| Cultivation Area Available: | |
| Area Cultivated: | |
| Character of Surroundings: | Situated in Delaware Bay |
| Stove, Maker: | Othello 327B by Duke Sunshine, Reading Store Works |
| Stove, Size: | 13" fire pot, Oven 18" x 19 x 12.5" |
| Sink, Maker: | Not Known |
| Sink, Size: | 18" x 36' |
| Pump, Maker: | Not Known |
| Pump, Size: | 1 1/4" pipe, 3" cylinder |
| Lamps: | Std table lamps in use |
| Water |
| How Procured: | From roof of lighthouse & by tender |
| Quality: | Water is OK |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | No. Water for cooking & drinking purposes is furnished by tender (indoor water tanks) |
| Purity Precaution: | Downspouts have been provided with cutoffs |
| Tank Capacity: | 4 tanks in basement, cap. 3000 gal. |
| Tank Material: | Wood |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Healthful |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | Landing is made by means of landing ladders lowered from the first balcony. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: | This station presents a neat appearance, is well kept & is in good repair & efficient |
| Boats |
| Boat Number: | 8 |
| Type: | Whaleboat |
| Length: | 5' 4" |
| Width: | 16' 6" |
| When Built: | 10/5/1897 |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 10/5/1897 |
| Sails: | True |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | Cruiser motor launch of Lewes LH Depot, Del. make regular trips to this station |
| Boats on Station: | On davits |