Report for Buffalo (New York) - 1915
| General |
| District: | 10th |
| Inspector: | Joseph Prue |
| Location: | Inside of N end of Buffalo Breakwater, on US Breakwater Reservation. |
| Date of Report: | 05/10/1915 |
| Latitude: | 42° 52' 39" |
| Longitude: | 78° 53' 56" |
| Premises |
| Site: | Granted to US by NY state, letters Patent approved Sept. 10, 1900. |
| Date of Reservation: | |
| Date of Deed: | 09/12/1900 |
| Date of Permission: | |
| Date of Lease: | |
| Area of the Entire Site: | Crib 40' x 40' = 1600 sq. ft. |
| Area Inclosed: | |
| Character of Soil: | |
| Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: | Structure foundation crib in 20' water. |
| Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: | None |
| Wharf or Landing on Premises: | Hanging iron ladders on SW & SE sides. Wooden bridge to breakwater on SW side of quarters. |
| Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance: | |
| Means to Reach Light Station: | By boat from Buffalo, NY 3/4 mile to foot of Erie St. |
| 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: | Brick tower at 1 corner of rectangular brick quarters. |
| Number of Separate Lights: | 1 |
| First Built or Established: | 1872 |
| Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: | 1912 |
| 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: | 65' |
| Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: | Dark bldgs & smoke of City of Buffalo |
| Color of Tower: | Cream colored brick |
| Color of Tower/ How Produced: | |
| Tower Connection: | Tower rises from 1 corner of roof of quarters (quarters used by men on watch only - dwelling on mainland at the Old Buffalo (Main) light station) |
| Object of Navigation: | Landfall, marking N entrance to Buffalo Harbor, NY |
| Building Materials: | Brick, cream colored |
| General Description: | |
| Wall Thickness at Base: | |
| Wall Thickness at Parapet: | |
| Diameter at Base: | |
| Diameter at Parapet: | |
| Kind of Stairway and Steps: | Cast iron treads & landings, steel frames, straight flights to 2nd floor, winding above. |
| Number of Landings: | |
| Size of Glass: | 14" x 18", 8.5" x 9", 10.5" x 14" |
| Number of Windows and Size of Sash: | 4 |
| Number of Doors: | 1 door 7' x 3' |
| Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface: | |
| Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse: | |
| Soil Susceptibility: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Lantern and Fixtures |
| Order of Lantern: | 3rd order, standard |
| Shape of Lantern: | Cylindrical |
| Diameter to Glass: | |
| Diameter in the Clear: | |
| Number of Sides: | |
| Type of Bars: | Helical |
| Thickness of Bars: | |
| Height Glazed: | 5' 11.5" |
| Number of Plates in Height: | 2 |
| Number of Plates Each Side: | |
| Thickness of Plates: | 1/4" |
| Size of Plates: | 2' 1.08" x 2' 1.08" but as shown in std. plan. |
| Number of Storm Panes: | |
| Unglazed Side of Lantern: | None |
| What Bearings: | |
| Construction Material Lantern: | Cast iron, brass, steel, etc. |
| Construction Material Roof / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Ventilator / Cowl: | Cast iron |
| Lightning Spindle: | Brass, platinum tip |
| Description of Lightning Rod: | |
| Balustrade: | Cast iron lantern deck, rolled steel balcony, hand rail with cast iron posts |
| Lantern Doors: | Cast iron frame, lower panel steel, upper panel glass. |
| Floor of Lantern: | Cast iron |
| Watchroom Doors: | Steel plate, trap door. |
| Parapet Diameter: |
| Ventilators |
| Location / Number: | 5 brass air registers in parapet |
| Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: | 1 steel ladder |
| Curtain Hooks / Hanger: | Curtains on metal spring rollers. |
| Watchroom |
| How is Watchroom Fitted: | 9' 10" x 9' 10" watchroom, no fittings. Quarters are connected to tower, not yet fitted completely |
| How is Relief Called: | None |
| Where is Call System Led: |
| Illuminating Apparatus |
| Kind of Apparatus: | |
| Intensity in Candles: | 180,000 |
| Name of Maker: | Unknown, lens is from Paris |
| Year Made: | 1905 |
| Marks and Number: | None |
| Order of Apparatus: | 3rd |
| Inside Diameter: | 3' 3 1/4" |
| Light Characteristic: | |
| Time of Revolution: | 20 sec. |
| Flash Interval: | |
| Duration of Flash: | |
| Arc of Each Fixed Part: | |
| Number of Panels: | 4 |
| Number of Flash Panels: | 4 |
| Arc of Each: | 90 degrees |
| Number of Elements in Central Drum: | Each panel made up of central bullseye, surrounded by 6 full circular prism |
| Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: | 9 segmented prisms above bullseye |
| Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: | 2 segmented prisms below bullseye |
| Does Apparatus Revolve?: | True |
| Is There a Revolving Belt?: | False |
| Revolving Panels: | |
| How Flash is Produced: | |
| Number of Vertical Elements Panel: | |
| Fixed Lens Covered: | |
| Pedestal: | Std. 3rd order lens pedestal with mercury float & balls, manufactured at General Depot, Tompkinsville, NY |
| Service Table: | |
| Draft Tube Description: | |
| Revolving Machinery: | |
| Standby and Description: | |
| Chariot Float or Balls: | Mercury float & balls combined. |
| Chariot Description: | |
| Length of Drop Tube: | |
| Clock Weight: | |
| Length of Winding Time: | |
| Drive During Rewind: | |
| Machinery Protection: | |
| Regulated: | |
| Lens Protection: | |
| How Color is Produced: | |
| Red Sectors Description: | |
| Where Color Attached: | |
| Form of Colored Glass: | |
| Lamp Description: | 55 mm type B |
| Type of Illuminant: | IOV |
| Number of Spare Lamps: | 1 extra IOV, 2 - 4th order wick lamps. |
| Number of Spare Burners: | |
| Candle Power: |
| Vapor Oil Lamp |
| Number of Wicks or Mantels: | 1 mantle |
| Diameter of Outside Wick: | |
| Diameter of Mantel: | 55 mm |
| Diameter of Circum Circle: |
| Closets and Store Rooms |
| Tower Closet Use: | None at present. Interior fittings not yet completed. |
| Oil House Description: | In cellar of quarters |
| Oil House Inside Dimension: | |
| Oil House Construction Material: | |
| Oil House Capacity: | 2 steel tanks, for fuel oil, each 650 gals. cap. Illuminating oil tank not yet installed. |
| Other (Describe): | Storeroom on main or engine room floor is 10' 10" x 11' 7", not yet fitted completely. |
| Suitability: | Dry, suited for purpose. |
| Fog Signal General |
| Fog Signal Kind: | Air diaphone, Type F, operated by compressed air |
| Time to Start: | Practically none |
| How Long Will Pressure Last: | 12 to 15 min. |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Year of Manufacture: | |
| Characteristic: | 1 sec blast, 1 sec silent, 1 sec blast 17 sec silent |
| Duplication: | Engines, compressors, air receivers, diaphone except timing device. |
| Timing Device: | 2 cam wheels rotated on same shaft by worm gear |
| If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: | Diaphone, 30 lbs. |
| Height Above Water: | |
| Compass Direction: | |
| Location: | Marks N entrance to Buffalo Harbor, diaphone is on SW side of quarters near end of breakwater |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Water Supply: | Elevated steel tank filled from lake or cistern by gasoline driven pump. |
| Reached from Lighthouse: | Tank in attic of quarters |
| Description of Fog Signal Building: | Signal apparatus within quarters |
| Pressure And Recording Gauge: |
| Internal Combustion Signal |
| Fog Signal Kind: | |
| Internal Combustion Kind: | 4 cycle, starts on gasoline, continues on fuel oil |
| Internal Combustion Manufacturer: | Fairbanks, Morse & Co. |
| Internal Combustion Date: | 1913 |
| Internal Combustion Size: | |
| Internal Combustion Horsepower: | 22 |
| Internal Combustion Fuel: | Fuel oil |
| Internal Combustion Starter: | By compressed air or by detonation of parlor match |
| Compressor Maker: | Fairbanks, Morse & Co. |
| Compressor Seat: | On same bed, compressor cyl opposed to power cyls. |
| Compressor Machinery: | |
| Compressor Diameter: | |
| Compressor Stroke: | |
| Compressor RPMs: | 185 |
| Character of Air Inlet: | 1.5" & 4" |
| Kind of Unloader: | Erie |
| Diameter of Delivery Pipe: |
| Water |
| How Procured: | Directly from lake or from cistern fed from roof of quarters |
| Quality: | Potable |
| Quantity: | Ample |
| Injury Possible: | Not liable |
| Purity Precaution: | |
| Tank Capacity: | Cistern - 6500 gal; tank 1700 gal. |
| Tank Material: | Concrete cistern in basement; steel tank in attic. |
| Distilling Apparatus: | False |
| Distilling Manufacturer: | |
| Well Description: | |
| Well Diameter: | |
| Well Lining: | |
| Pump or Bucket: | |
| What Power Used: | |
| Distance from Dwelling: |
| Healthfulness |
| General Opinion: | Good |
| Diseases: | |
| Prevalency: | |
| Local Causes: | |
| Recommended Improvements: |
| Miscellaneous |
| Access to Lighthouse: | No boathouse, wharf or road. Landing generally made on adjacent breakwater from which a wooden bridge leads to quarters. |
| Distance and Direction: | |
| Miscellaneous Remarks: |
| Boats |
| Boat #1 | |
| Boat Number: | 93 |
| Type: | Whale, gasoline engine |
| Length: | 6' |
| Width: | 23' 3" |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Dec. 1913 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #2 | |
| Boat Number: | 24 |
| Type: | Row |
| Length: | 3.5' |
| Width: | 14' |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | 1901 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Boat #3 | |
| Boat Number: | 26 |
| Type: | Row & sail |
| Length: | 4' 3.5" |
| Width: | 17' |
| When Built: | |
| Date Harbored at Station: | Sept., 1905 |
| Sails: | False |
| Suited to Work: | Yes |
| Power Boat |
| Engine Type: | Gasoline, 2 cycle 2 cyl |
| Horsepower: | 12 |
| Engine Maker: | Termaat & Monahan Co. |
| Spare Coil: | KW ignition Co., made for 2 cyl type of engine |
| Magnet: | None |
| Battery: | Dry |
| Propeller Diameter: | 22" |
| Propeller Pitch: | 26" |
| Miscellaneous |
| General Information: | |
| Boats on Station: | Moored to breakwater or to light station. |