Lantern, Railroad

Object Name:

Lantern, Railroad

Object ID:

1974.053.02

Date:

1850

Description:

Signal Lantern, Northern Railroad. Tin and red glass. "N.R.R." etched in serif letters on front of glass globe. Circular metal base with concave bottom surface; vertical collar around edge, about 1.5" high. Three reeded decorations closed together and near collar. Number of five-star perforations near bottom surface. Top edge is turned over. Vertical solder joint on one side. Smaller diameter collar around glass reservoir which also has vertical soldered seam. Slightly turned-over edge at top of central collar to help hold reservoir in place. Brass collar on top of reservoir that has dual wick threaded insert. Two locking slots in top edge of outer collar of base. Glass section has narrow metal collar about 0.8" high around its base which is held in place by plaster. Vertical solder joint in collar. Two locking pins that extend from opposite sides of collar. Glass has slightly bulging sides near bottom then slight straight taper to heavy glass ring at top edge. Similar glass ring at bottom edge. Sheet-metal straight-sided section at top with cone-shaped cover that is part of it. Vertical seam on side and on side of conical section. Flared collar where side and top section meet. Series of 3-reeded decorations around mid-section of cone. Three reeded areas around base of collar. Upper area of flat side is a horizontal row of 5-pointed star perforations. Above it is a series of diamond-shaped perforations then another row of 5-pointed star perforations. Hole in top of cone section. Sheet-metal strap at top of cone section which has a disc on top of it and circular sheet-metal handle. These are joined together by a heavy wire. Loop at top end of wire. It looks like there's a wire loop at end of wire that is around another wire that passes through strap and sides of cone near top. Second wire also has loops on its ends. Sheet-metal handle is approximately 0.75" wide and has diameter of 4.3". Reeded section around its center and both edges are turned up and rolled over. Ends of handle overlap at junction with body. Surfaces are all brownish asphaltum color but there is dirt and other residues on the surface. Top metal section is adhered to glass with plaster. Metal baffle at top of glass inside metal cover section. Glass appears to be colored all the way through.

Material:

Metal
Glass
Tin
Brass

Dimensions:

H-16 Dia-4.2 inches

Credit Line:

Gift of Dudley W. Orr

Subjects:

Railroads, Transportation