Report for Cape Cod (Massachusetts) - 1927

General
District: 2nd
Inspector: C. H. Robinson, Asso Lighthouse Engineer
Location: On Highlands NE side of Cape Cod, Mass.
Date of Report: 06/10/1927
Latitude: 42° 02' 23"
Longitude: 70° 03' 40"
Premises
Site: Purchase
Date of Reservation:
Date of Deed: 08/07/1776
Date of Permission:
Date of Lease:
Area of the Entire Site: 10 acres 47 poles
Area Inclosed: Whole
Character of Soil:
Distance of tower from Nearest High-Water Mark: About 580'
Inclosures to Premises / Type of Fence: Wire concrete posts
Wharf or Landing on Premises: None
Road to Land or Wharf Chararacter of and Distance:
Means to Reach Light Station: By public road: Post Office N Truro, distant 1 1/4 miles
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: Tower
Number of Separate Lights: One
First Built or Established: 1798
Last Rebuilt, Repaired, or Renovated: 1857
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: 183'
Background of Lighthouse as Seen from Sea: Sky
Color of Tower: White
Color of Tower/ How Produced: Whitewash
Tower Connection: Connected by covered way
Object of Navigation: Primary seacoast
Building Materials: Bricks & cement
General Description:
Wall Thickness at Base:
Wall Thickness at Parapet:
Diameter at Base:
Diameter at Parapet:
Kind of Stairway and Steps: Iron
Number of Landings:
Size of Glass: 8" x 10" & 9" x 10.5"
Number of Windows and Size of Sash: 3; 2' 3.5" x 22.5"
Number of Doors: 1 - 3' x 7'
Kind of Foundation and Depth Below Surface:
Character of Soil Surrounding the Lighthouse:
Soil Susceptibility:
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower sets on concrete foundation. Land is sandy.
Lantern and Fixtures
Order of Lantern: 1st
Shape of Lantern: Polygonal
Diameter to Glass:
Diameter in the Clear:
Number of Sides: 16
Type of Bars: Vertical
Thickness of Bars: 1 1/8"
Height Glazed: 9' 5 7/8"
Number of Plates in Height: 3
Number of Plates Each Side: 3
Thickness of Plates: 1/4"
Size of Plates: Top: 28" x 47 5/8"; Middle: 28" x 39"; Bottom: 28" x 25"; 16 lights each
Number of Storm Panes:
Unglazed Side of Lantern: None
What Bearings:
Construction Material Lantern: Iron
Construction Material Roof / Cowl: Iron
Ventilator / Cowl: Iron
Lightning Spindle: Copper, platinum tip & grounded
Description of Lightning Rod:
Balustrade: Yes
Lantern Doors: Iron hinged with latch
Floor of Lantern: Iron
Watchroom Doors: Hinges & handle
Parapet Diameter:
Ventilators
Location / Number: Lower part of lantern
Ladders / Cleaning Arrangement: Iron
Curtain Hooks / Hanger: Spring rollers


Watchroom
How is Watchroom Fitted: Pedestal & sides sheathed
How is Relief Called: Telephone
Where is Call System Led: To 2 dwellings
Illuminating Apparatus
Kind of Apparatus: 2 1/4 hours
Intensity in Candles: 580,000
Name of Maker: Barbier, Benard & Turenne
Year Made: 1901
Marks and Number: Paris
Order of Apparatus: 1st
Inside Diameter: 6' 0.5"
Light Characteristic:
Time of Revolution: 20 sec.
Flash Interval: 4.8 sec.
Duration of Flash: 0.2 sec.
Arc of Each Fixed Part:
Number of Panels: 28
Number of Flash Panels: 4
Arc of Each: 90 degrees
Number of Elements in Central Drum: 8
Number of Prisms Above Center Drum: 18 flashing
Number of Prisms Below Center Drum: 8 flashing
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: Cast iron
Service Table:
Draft Tube Description: Yes, black iron 7 1/8" diam. held in place by collar
Revolving Machinery:
Standby and Description:
Chariot Float or Balls: Mercury float
Chariot Description:
Length of Drop Tube: No tube, weight goes in stair well
Clock Weight: About 200 lbs
Length of Winding Time: 2 1/4 hours
Drive During Rewind: Yes
Machinery Protection: Glass case
Regulated: By friction fly ball governor
Lens Protection:
How Color is Produced:
Red Sectors Description:
Where Color Attached:
Form of Colored Glass:
Lamp Description: 55 mm IOV Type A
Type of Illuminant: Kerosene
Number of Spare Lamps: 2
Number of Spare Burners:
Candle Power: 580,000 cp


Vapor Oil Lamp
Number of Wicks or Mantels: 1 mantel
Diameter of Outside Wick:
Diameter of Mantel: 2 1/8"
Diameter of Circum Circle: One only


Mercury Float
Inside Diameter of Trough: 5' 7 1/4"
Inside Depth of Trough: 10"
Outside Diameter of Float: 5' 7"
Depth of Float: 11.5"
Weight of Mercury in Pounds: About 600
How Often is Mercury Renewed: Never has been renewed since 1901
Closets and Store Rooms
Tower Closet Use: None
Oil House Description: About 150' NE'ly from tower, no fittings
Oil House Inside Dimension: 11' 10" x 13' 8"
Oil House Construction Material: Bricks
Oil House Capacity: 700 5-gal cans
Other (Describe): None
Suitability:
Fog Signal General
Fog Signal Kind: 1st class Daboll trumpet
Time to Start: 5 to 8 minutes
How Long Will Pressure Last: 1 minute
Manufacturer:
Year of Manufacture:
Characteristic: 8 sec blast; 30 sec silent
Duplication: All parts
Timing Device: Automatic clocks
If whistle, siren, or trumpet, Pressure at Which Blown: 5.5 lbs pressure
Height Above Water: 150'
Compass Direction: 47 degrees
Location: To warn mariners from E'ly side of Cape Cod
Distance and Direction: 140' 77 degrees
Water Supply: Cistern water
Reached from Lighthouse: Path
Description of Fog Signal Building: Brick house with hip roof
Pressure And Recording Gauge: Yes
Internal Combustion Signal
Fog Signal Kind:
Internal Combustion Kind: Hornsby Akroyd
Internal Combustion Manufacturer: De La Vergne Refg & Mch Co.
Internal Combustion Date: 1899
Internal Combustion Size: 7" x 8"
Internal Combustion Horsepower: 4
Internal Combustion Fuel: Kerosene
Internal Combustion Starter: Hot ball
Compressor Maker: Clayton Air compressor Works, 1899
Compressor Seat: Separate bed geared
Compressor Machinery: Ratio 1 to 2
Compressor Diameter: 7"
Compressor Stroke: 7"
Compressor RPMs: 150
Character of Air Inlet: Disc 1.5"
Kind of Unloader: Safety valve on tank
Diameter of Delivery Pipe: 1.5"


Daboll Signal
Daboll: 1st class
Daboll Reed:
Daboll Length: 20"
Daboll Breadth: 5"
Daboll Base Thickness: 1 3/16"
Daboll Tip Thickness: 3/8"


Trumpet Signal
Trumpet:
Trumpet Length: 15'
Trumpet Diameter: 5" & 14
Trumpet Material: Copper


Air Receiver
Number: 3
Diameter: 2 - 3' 6"; 1 - 3' 3"
Height: 2 - 8'; 1 - 7' 6"
Capacity Cubic Feet: 2 - 80; 1 - 65
Pressure in Each: 5.5
Make of Reducing Valve: None
Remarks: These engines are ideal for fog signal purposes.
Dwelling
Location: Keeper's dwelling N, Assts' E of tower
Coloring: White, lead trimmings
Construction Materials: Wood
Number of Rooms: Single - 6 & bath; Double 5 & bath each side
Number of Dwellings: 2
Heating Plant: Direct hot water
Number of Keepers: Keeper in single, 2 assts in double
Furnished Quarters: All
NOT Furnished Quarters: None
Outhouses: 2 fuel houses & pump house
Outhouse Coloring: White lead trim
Paths and Walks: Cement walks to fuel houses
Area Inclosed:
Area of Garden:
Area Timber or Shrubbery:
Cultivation Area Available: Whole
Area Cultivated: None
Character of Surroundings: Sandy
Stove, Maker: Magee Grand (3)
Stove, Size: 7-18 (3)
Sink, Maker: Not known
Sink, Size: 22" x 48" (3)
Pump, Maker: Douglas (3)
Pump, Size: # 2 (3)
Lamps: 3 brass hand & 3 brass table lamps from General Depot
Water
How Procured: From deep driven well & from roofs
Quality: Good
Quantity: Ample
Injury Possible: No
Purity Precaution: Frequent cleaning
Tank Capacity: Cisterns in each dwelling, 1200 gals.
Tank Material: Bricks cement plastered
Distilling Apparatus: False
Distilling Manufacturer:
Well Description: Driven well, 153' deep
Well Diameter: 4"
Well Lining: Iron pipe
Pump or Bucket: Pump
What Power Used: Kerosene eng. & sump
Distance from Dwelling: 16'
Healthfulness
General Opinion: Healthful
Diseases: None
Prevalency:
Local Causes: No
Recommended Improvements: No
Miscellaneous
Access to Lighthouse:
Distance and Direction: No suitable beach landing
Miscellaneous Remarks: Tower, dwellings, fog signal building & apparatus in good condition. There is a wireless station & compass station operated by Navy Dept. located on N'ly end of reservation.
Supplemental Reports
Cape Cod Light Station
1946
Note:: 36" Double Drum rotating beacon installed 1946