Personally, I consider it one of the most beautiful hurricane lantern globes ever made. I have this glass in several lanterns in my collection, even though it’s not historically accurate for all of them.

The trademark application shows that it was filed in 1914, so I expect this glass only appeared in the updated version of L'Indispensable around 1913/1914.

The rooster is a national symbol of France, known as the Gallic Rooster, representing pride, courage, strength, and vigilance.

This is believed to be the oldest model marketed under the Dresco name in my collection. In my assessment, it was most likely manufactured by Kästner & Töbelmann. This hurricane lantern exhibits several features characteristic of lanterns produced by Kästner & Töbelmann, including the ventilation layout that directs airflow from the air chamber down toward the base.

A distinctive feature of this hurricane lantern is the chimney cover. It is the only complete lantern in my collection that does not feature a screw‑type cap, which sets it apart from comparable examples.

The brass identification plate bears the following inscription:

Lanterne Tempête Française
A Double Courant d’Air
L’Indispensable
Déposée
LD Paris

The brass identification plate exactly as shown here was registered as a trademark design in 1903.

The glass is not original; it has been replaced with the well‑known glass bearing the rooster motif.

The paint finish is not original; however, as it is visually appealing and well preserved, the paint has not been removed.

Height: 41 cm

The hurricane lantern shown below is the worst‑condition example I have ever purchased. It was acquired primarily for the identification plate and spare parts, as it is otherwise identical to the hurricane lantern described above.

The difference lies in the brass plate: instead of the Dresco logo, it features two capital letters “G”, and in the middle two horses, with an emblem containing a star positioned between them.

It is therefore quite possible that this hurricane lantern was not produced for Dresco, but instead manufactured for a different company.

The hurricane lantern shown below retains the same fuel tank, the brass wick cap with plus‑shaped cut‑outs, and the same overall height as the models described above. However, it differs in its chimney cover, which consists of a threaded brass cap. This design allowed the air tubes to be easily accessed and cleaned.

The brass wick cap bears the Dresco logo. Notably, the text on the brass identification plate is identical to that of the two previous models; however, where the brand name would normally appear, this plate reads:

Coopérative Agricole du Sud‑Est
Lyon

This strongly suggests that the lantern was specifically produced for an agricultural cooperative.

An interesting contextual detail is that one of Dresco’s major competitors, Valentini, was based in Lyon.

This model is in very good overall condition. Unfortunately, the glass globe is broken; however, as it is believed to be the original glass, it has been left in place.

The air‑vent opening in the base is no longer present and has been replaced by a bolt. This modification was most likely carried out at some point in the past to address a leak in the fuel tank.

Height: 43 cm

The hurricane lantern shown below has not yet been restored and presents something of a puzzle. First of all, it does not fit neatly within the established chronological line: it features the fuel tank of later models, while retaining the triangular chimney cover associated with earlier examples.
In addition, the lantern features a non‑standard fuel cap, differing from those seen on the other models.

Even more intriguing is the brass identification plate. Unlike the other lanterns described, it does not bear the name L’Indispensable; instead, it is marked “La Parisienne.” This name was used by the company SIAE — La Société Industrielle d’Articles d’Éclairage.

The hurricane lantern shown below represents the second model of the L’Indispensable. The principal differences compared to the earlier series are the changed shape of the fuel tank and the relocation of the filling opening to the front of the hurricane lantern.

This series is also slightly smaller, both in overall height and width, than the earlier models.

I own three examples of this model. Notably, all three are fitted with different wick caps and wick holders, suggesting either variations in production, the use of components from different suppliers, or later replacements during their working life.

The brass identification plate is inscribed:

L’Indispensable
Breveté SGDG
Image (?) Force
LD
Paris

Height: 40 cm

Unfortunately, the wick cap currently fitted to this hurricane lantern is not original to the model.

The glass globe is not original to this period, but is of later manufacturing date.

The following model has not yet been restored, but is nonetheless in very good condition and retains its original glass globe. The brass chimney cap is marked with the Dresco logo, consistent with earlier examples.

The most significant difference, however, is found on the brass identification plate, which bears the following inscription:

L’Indispensable
Blindée
Paris Déposée

The term “Blindée” translates into English as “armoured”. Such terminology was commonly used at the time to indicate that a new or improved model had been introduced to the market, often implying enhanced durability or robustness.

That the glass globe is original is further supported by contemporary documentation: the Blindée version is mentioned in a catalogue from 1905, in which it is explicitly described as the new model.

A version of this model can also be found fitted with a large reflector.

The next hurricane lantern is almost identical to the example described above. The main differences are the absence of ventilation openings below the wick holder, a different type of wick holder, and, naturally, the different brass identification plate and its inscription.

The brass plate is marked:
Lanterne
CF
Bonhomme

It is possible that Bonhomme functioned as a wholesaler or reseller of Dresco hurricane lanterns; however, no source material has been found to confirm this.

The next series of hurricane lanterns represents a major design change. The fuel tank has a completely different shape, the wick holder and the section housing it are entirely redesigned, and the ventilation cap is no longer made of brass but of steel. Despite these changes, the brand name L’Indispensable continued to be used.

In addition, brass identification plates were no longer applied. Instead, the identifying text was stamped directly into the top of the fuel tank.

In my view, this model was fully produced by Dresco itself. This development may have been influenced by the geopolitical tensions and the subsequent war with Germany, namely the First World War, which likely affected supply chains, materials, and manufacturing practices.

Within this new design, several variants were produced, of which this example appears to be the first version.

The markings on the tank are as follows:

Front of the tank:

L’Indispensable
"E.Q.L.A."

Back of the tank:

Bté L.D. – S.G.D.G.

Height: 42,5 cm

Shown below is also the warranty card associated with this model. It is particularly noteworthy that the card warns users to be cautious with hurricane lanterns featuring ventilation openings at the bottom of the fuel tank, stating that such lanterns may extinguish when placed on the ground and, in extreme cases, could even explode.

The following model shows only minor differences compared to the previous example and can be dated to after 1922. This dating is based on a patent filed in 1922 for the reinforced, folded metal plate beneath the chimney cap and for the offset introduced in the rod of the glass lifter.

Additional identifying features include a double ridge along the upper edge of the fuel tank and a differently shaped bail handle. Despite these modifications, the text stamped on the tank remains identical to that of the preceding model.

The following hurricane lantern dates to the same period as the example described above and has not yet been restored. This is the Le Coq model, identifiable by the rooster motif on the fuel tank and by a distinctive glass carrier that differs from those used on the L’Indispensable models.

These identifying features are also illustrated in a contemporary catalogue from this period. The only difference is that, in the catalogue, the name Le Coq is spelled out in text on the tank, whereas on this particular example it is represented by an image.

In addition, this model features a completely different burner chamber compared to the L’Indispensable series.

The bail handle is also of a different design; however, in my opinion it is not original to the lantern. Its shape deviates from known examples, the clamps securing the air tubes differ, and the soldering appears relatively crude, suggesting a later replacement or repair.

The markings on the tank are as follows:

Front of the tank:

L D

Back of the tank:

Brevetée S.G.D.G.

Height: 41,5 cm

This is probably the youngest hurricane lantern in my Dresco collection. The name Dresco does not appear in full on the fuel tank; however, the abbreviation and the model characteristics clearly point to this manufacturer. It remains unclear what the letter “S” stands for.

The year 1926 is used here as the latest possible date, as a newspaper article published in 1926 reports that the company Dresco ceased operations in that year. It is, of course, possible that another company subsequently acquired the machinery and continued production, but so far I have found no references to Dresco after 1926.

This hurricane lantern shares many features with the L’Indispensable models, including the fuel tank shape, overall height, chimney cap, and the shape of the bail handle. A notable difference lies in the clamps securing the carrying handle to the air tubes; these match the form shown in the contemporary catalogue illustrations.

The burner chamber and the fuel cap, on the other hand, correspond closely to those of the Le Coq model described above, as does the text stamped on the rear of the fuel tank.
The glass carrier, however, is of a different design than that found on the earlier models.

The markings on the tank are as follows:

Front of the tank:

S. L. D

Back of the tank:

Brevetée S.G.D.G.

Height: 41,5 cm

Shown below is an illustration from a catalogue in my collection. The catalogue is undated; however, based on its content and overall design, I estimate it to date from between 1924 and 1926.

The illustration also shows the La 300 model, which appears to be unmarked. I have not yet encountered this model in person, and it is currently not represented in my collection.

It is explicitly prohibited to reproduce or use this image without permission.

My sincere thanks go to Jörg Wekemann for generously sharing his knowledge and information.
My gratitude also goes to Simeon Denbaes and Henk Kloosterman for sharing their passion for French hurricane lanterns and their valuable insights.

Sources

Numerous references were consulted. If you have any questions or comments regarding the information above, please feel free to get in touch.

• Delcampe.net – Historical invoices
• gallica.bnf.fr – Historical newspaper articles
• retronews.fr – Historical newspaper articles
• Inpi.fr – Patent records
• Geneanet – Genealogical information