The Red Brick Times

Speaking of Road Trip - the Block Island Southeast Lighthouse has no ceramics except for the huge first-order fresnel lens. But even U.S. Grant, who signed the appropriation for its construction (finished in 1875), made a vacation visit. Can we do any less? They moved the whole 4-million-pound lightouse assembly in 1993 to escape the predation of the Atlantic. The same company who move the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse did the work. Another detailed description of the Southeast Lighthouse includes the fact that until 1990, the rotating lens was floated in a mercury (Hg) pool, which had mineral oil floating on top of that to prevent poisonous Hg fumes from evaporating. The oil could also evaporate over several years' time. Bearing technology was different in 1875.

More information on Lighthouse lamps and lenses at Pete's Lantern Room. A short animation at PBS' Legendary Lighthouses shows how a Fresnell lens works. It takes a couple of minutes to download, but highlights the complexity of the lens structure. The program also lets you look up lighthouses by region, including the Great Lakes. You can buy a model of a Fresnell lens at the National Lighthouse Museum for only $48. It runs on two AA batteries and will help you navigate the channel between your front door and your bedroom while in a fog.
Posted 9:09 AM by Andy (8) comments

       Comments:

I visited the Beavertail Lighthouse when vacationing last summer at Tony and Marsha's in RI. There's a cool little museum in the lighthouse building with exhibits about the history of the entire area.

# posted by  whatley : May 19, 2005 4:16 PM
 
So if you'd made a road trip east in 1977 you could of had a beer in the kitchen and played poker with the lighthouse keeper ( which,except for a cruel twist of fate, should have been me). Or 16 years later you could have stood next to me and watch them move it. Now its just a stupid tourist "Interpretive Center", whatever that means, but the lens is still cool.

# posted by  A. O. : May 20, 2005 10:06 PM
 
I think I can speak for all stupid tourists when I say that they interpreted me pretty well.

# posted by  whatley : May 21, 2005 6:32 AM
 
I was, of course, refering to the Block Island Southeast Light to which I was assigned as keeper in 1976, but ended up as a boat cox'n at the Block Island Station because the other recently assigned Bosun's Mate turned out to be violently seasick on small boats. Quel domage, eh?

# posted by  A. O. : May 21, 2005 2:00 PM
 
From the site http://www.simpsonsfolder.com/special/faq.html that contains Simpons' faq and arcania:

In (the episode) Day of Jackanapes, Bob says: "Attention! The French club picnic has been cancelled. Quel domage" What does "Quel domage" mean?

Quel dommage means "what a pity!" It's a commonly-taught French phrase, the sort you'd expect American students to use frequently.

# posted by  Andy : May 21, 2005 11:06 PM
 
This post has been removed by a blog administrator.

# posted by  A. O. : May 22, 2005 9:46 AM
 
As opposed to "Quel frommage" which means "What cheese" and is used frequently by discerning American TV watchers usually in response to Fear Factor or any given episode of "The Swan".

# posted by  A. O. : May 22, 2005 9:48 AM
 
Que Lastima!

# posted by  Andy : May 22, 2005 11:50 AM
 
Post a Comment


---