You cannot determine the actual manufacturer or date of manufacture by the patents listed on lanterns because inventors were paid royalties for use of their patents by numerous manufacturers, but here is what I have:
*TUBULAR*--------no manufacturer---no patents
L W *TUBULAR*--no manufacturer---last patent 1872
*TUBULAR*--------no manufacturer---last patent 1879
L W SG&L CO-----SG&L CO------------last patent 1881
All of these also have TUBULAR NO O on the center tube except the one with no patents.
All those with patents have the 5-28-67 Irwin patent and the earlier 4-2-67 Crihfield Tubular patent.
The SG&L does not have the guard around the side tubes, but the bail attachment has round holes as opposed to the cross holes.
Note: Most of the Dietz & Smith, Dennis & Wheeler, and the early SG&L/Dietz lanterns(or at least the ones I have) all have the Crihfield & Irwin patents on them.
John M
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