# Old Brooklyn Lantern **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [December 26, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147 "2012-12-26T02:55:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/1 "2012-12-26T02:55:24Z")
I’ve been thinking of getting one of these, so I thought I’d check here for a review first. Anyone have one of these and have you had to use it? What do you like, don’t like about it? Thanks! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/2 "2012-12-26T03:33:51Z")
Go to Bed Bath n Beyond, versus buying online. Any online BOGO ( buy one get one free) has a huge shipping and processing fee. I bought a similar LED lantern at Rural King for $10. Plastic, not metal, and looks no where as nice, but same batteries and LEDs, no dimmer. Next time Im in bed bath beyond, i will hold a old brooklyn lantern, and likely buy several. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/3 "2012-12-26T04:02:38Z")
Yeah, I got caught with that, “we’ll double it, just pay shipping and handling” thing when I bought one of those stapler thingies that hang pictures onto walls. Works fine, but what they gave me “double” was a set of extra “staples”, so what would have cost me $19.99 would up costing me about $35.00. I will take your advice about B, B & B, thanks! Q ---
**Author:** ![cougar58](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f07891/32.png) [@cougar58](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cougar58)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/4 "2012-12-26T04:55:21Z")
Decent independant review…read the user comments > **[Does the Olde Brooklyn Lantern Really Work? - Does It Really Work?](https://doesitreallywork.org/olde-brooklyn-lantern-review/)** > > The Olde Brooklyn Lantern combines an old turn of the century lantern with today's LED lighting technology. Most seem very happy with them…the few that had defective units, complain of high shipping charges to return them, and months of waiting for exchange. Im very pleased with my Rural King $10 model…plus, mine has 24 LED lights, which is overkill. Not much to look at, but then again i got it foe emergency backup lighting. My sisters showed up for xmas, they one upped me…they found one that has motion sensor…keep it by elderly dad. When he gets up, it does as well ---
**Author:** ![Craneop2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6bbea6/32.png) [@Craneop2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Craneop2)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/5 "2012-12-26T05:00:43Z")
Quazi; Wife bought one of those Old Brooklyn lamps at the local HEB store. Check out any of the as seen on tv aisles at Wal Mart or Walgreens stores. It works as advertized and was cheaper than the commercial order one because we didn’t have to pay S&H. ---
**Author:** ![Quasimodem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/e274bd/32.png) [@Quasimodem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quasimodem)\ **Post date:** [December 26, 2012, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/6 "2012-12-26T05:13:35Z")
**cougar** and **Craneop** , I read the Amazon comments and complaints and it seemed to me there were a lot of people who said the lighting wasn’t bright enough to suit their needs, so I definitely WON’T be ordering from the company or Amazon. I _will_ check them out at one of my local CV’S/Walgreens/B B & B, though, so at least I can take it back if it doesn’t work to my expectations One of the respondents mentioned solar charged lights which are much cheaper and work better. Just put them out in the daytime and bring them in at night. This seems like a good alternative too. I am very glad I posted this here, because once again **Dopers** came to my rescue before I may have wasted my money. Thank You! Quasi ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/7 "2012-12-27T16:17:28Z")
As a decorative piece, it’s cute if that’s what you want. As a useful light source, it’s not so great. With a typical lantern design, there’s a 360º pattern of light which is not very practical in most situations. It’s hard to illuminate what you want to see without having some of the light shining in your eyes, and much of the light output is wasted. An aluminum foil reflector would help some, but of course detracts some from the looks. This particular lantern doesn’t seem to be very bright, which further limits its utility. The reviews on [this page](http://www.asseenontvonsale.com/for-the-home/olde-brooklyn-lantern/) don’t have much good to say. As an alternative, [this Kelty lantern](http://www.kelty.com/p-390-lumatwist.aspx?category=lighting) offers noticeably bright light, the option to use both or just one of its light panels, and ingenious pivoting panels that offer a ton of flexibility in aiming the light. Of course the price is noticeably higher, but it’s a well-designed high-quality item. (I’m not a Kelty shill, just an avid camper who has been very happy with my Luma Twist.) ---
**Author:** ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati)\ **Post date:** [December 27, 2012, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/8 "2012-12-27T20:04:49Z")
Not worth your time or money. What have you ever bought on TV that was awesome? Look around for quality manufacturers, and read some reviews. Here’s a Rayovac [LED lantern](http://www.amazon.com/Rayovac-Sportsman-LED-Lantern-SE3DLN/dp/B0018S4XIS). Here’s Cabela’s [selection](http://www.cabelas.com/outdoor-lanterns.shtml). You get what you pay for. That’s a universal truth! ---
**Author:** ![Cats\_pajamas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cdc98d/32.png) [@Cats\_pajamas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cats_pajamas)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2012, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/9 "2012-12-29T16:42:25Z")
Why the hell do they call it the Old Brooklyn Lantern? Very suspect. Can’t truss it. ---
**Author:** ![kittenblue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ba8739/32.png) [@kittenblue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kittenblue)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2012, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/10 "2012-12-30T18:00:55Z")
My mom wanted to buy one of those, but after reading the Amazon reviews where people complained that it didn’t give much light and burned through battieries quickly, I bought the Energizer Weather Ready Multi-Function Lantern instead. I’d post a link but it always seems to include my personal info in the link, so just cut and paste yourself! It’s not as cute as the Old Brooklyn , but very sturdy and gives lots of light. Plus you can use two different size batteries so in a pinch you can switch. ---
**Author:** ![katie11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/41988e/32.png) [@katie11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/katie11)\ **Post date:** [February 25, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/11 "2013-02-25T12:56:47Z")
> [@Quasimodem](#): > > I’ve been thinking of getting one of these, so I thought I’d check here for a review first. Anyone have one of these and have you had to use it? What do you like, don’t like about it? > > Thanks! > > Quasi These lanterns are considered as an antique as well as best to use.. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [April 18, 2013, 8:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/old-brooklyn-lantern/645147/13 "2013-04-18T08:15:58Z")
Reported.