Last lanterns from Merritt's sugarhouse in Peacham • In 11 active carts • 17 left
Merritt's Hand-Punched Lantern Bird Feeder
Merritt's Hand-Punched Lantern Bird Feeder
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Merritt's Hand-Punched Lantern Bird Feeder
A hand-punched tin lantern that tells you when the birds need breakfast — from a sugarhouse in Peacham, Vermont
Merritt Coombs, 76, has made his lantern feeders for 45 winters. Arthritis in his thumbs no longer lets him punch the pattern. These are his last 63.
“My wife used to check the feeder at twenty below with a flashlight. So in 1987 I hung a light over the tray. Now she just looks out from the kitchen sink. The light was never for the birds. It was for her.”
Merritt Coombs · Peacham, Vermont
What comes in the box
Punched flower pattern, copper finish
Built-in panel and light
Three-strand chain, ready to hang
Wrapped in newspaper by Merritt
What makes Merritt’s lantern different
At dusk the lantern turns itself on and lights the seed tray. One look from the kitchen window tells you if it needs filling.
The wide roof reaches past the tray. Snow and rain land on the roof, so the seed below stays dry.
Small holes let melting snow run out. The seed never sits in water and goes moldy.
A solar panel in the lid charges by day. No cords, no batteries to change — switch it on once.
At night the light shines through hundreds of little holes and throws a soft flower pattern onto the seed.
The round tray is open on every side, so cardinals, juncos and chickadees can all find a spot.
“Songbirds don’t feed at night — they feed hardest in the first hour after sunrise, especially after a cold night. The most useful thing a backyard feeder can do in winter is be full and dry at dawn. A light that shows you an empty tray before bedtime does exactly that. I also like the wide roof and the drain holes: wet, moldy seed is one of the most common problems at winter feeders.”
Dr. Ingrith Valcourt · Ornithologist (ret.) · St. Johnsbury, Vermont
Perfect for
Why Merritt’s lantern lasts
- Metal, not plastic. Varnished metal with a copper finish that darkens nicely with age.
- Weatherproof light. Rated IP44 against rain and snow.
- Easy to fill. Lift the lid, pour in seed, put it back.
- Strong chain. Three strands keep it level on a branch or porch hook.
- Made for every year. Hang it each winter — or leave it up as a patio light all summer.
If it doesn’t light up your evenings, one email to info@backroad-goods.com is enough. Merritt would rather have it back than hanging dark.
Tip from Merritt: Before the first use, lift the lid and switch the light to ON. Fill it with a fine seed mix (millet and small seeds) — large sunflower seeds and corn can get stuck. In short winter days, hang it where the lid gets some sun.
Product details
| Contents | 1 lantern bird feeder with solar lid, seed tray and hanging chain |
| Material | Varnished metal, copper finish |
| Light | Warm LED, turns on automatically at dusk |
| Power | Built-in solar panel, 600 mAh rechargeable battery |
| Weather | IP44, drain holes in the tray |
| Seed | Fine seed mix, millet, small seeds |
| Hanging | Tree branch, porch hook or shepherd’s pole |
| Made by | Merritt Coombs, Peacham, Vermont — last 63 remaining |
| Made so far | More than 1,900 lanterns since 1987 |
The Last Lanterns from Peacham
The Last Lanterns from Peacham
A note from the sugarhouse in Peacham:
In December 1987, Merritt Coombs saw his wife Adele standing at the back door at twenty below with a flashlight, checking whether the bird feeder was empty. So he hung a seed tray under one of his punched tin lanterns. From then on, she could see from the kitchen sink whether the birds would have breakfast. Merritt learned the craft from his grandfather Ansel and has made more than 1,900 lantern feeders since, each one about nine hours and 1,400 taps of the hammer. Now arthritis in his thumbs no longer lets him hold the punch. 17 lanterns are left. When they are gone, there will be no more.
Free US Shipping
Free US Shipping
Free shipping across the United States
- Delivery time: 3–5 business days
- Every lantern is wrapped by hand and ships from the US
- Metal with a copper finish, wide roof, round seed tray, hanging chain
- Solar panel in the lid, warm LED light turns on by itself at dusk
- IP44 weatherproof, drain holes in the tray
- For fine seed mixes and millet (large sunflower seeds and corn can get stuck)
- 30-day money-back guarantee — just email info@backroad-goods.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Got a question? Here’s how to reach us.
Email us anytime at info@backroad-goods.com. We answer Monday–Friday 9am–5pm and Saturday 10am–3pm (ET). Whether it’s about your order, where to hang it, or just to say hello — a real person writes back.
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Can I return it if it’s not for me?
Of course. 30-day money-back guarantee. Hang it in your yard, watch it for a week, and if it isn’t right for you, email info@backroad-goods.com within 30 days for a full refund. No questions, and US shipping is free.
How is it made?
How is it made?
Each lantern starts as a flat sheet of metal. The flower pattern is drawn on in chalk and punched hole by hole, then the tube is rolled, joined and given its copper finish. The wide roof with the solar light and the round seed tray go on last. About nine hours per lantern, packed by hand in Peacham, Vermont.