Posted 11 years ago
tashgrog
(1 item)
I purchased this lamp at an auction the other day, I paid $60 for it and have no idea if it was even worth that much, but I love it so I bid until I got it. I know nothing of its history. It has V R (with the arrow between the two letters) on the top of the base, also markings around the brass that holds the glass in but I can't read it, maybe one bit says ERWOOD. It's about 160mm long and 100mm wide, to the top of the glass it's 200mm high. It's brass, the joints are soldered but it looks like the original solder. It's a nice clean piece, maybe to clean. Can anyone tell me anything about this lamp. Thanks. I've been advised the V Arrow R may not be Vic Rail it may be Queen Victoria. I have been in touch with someone from the ARHS Vic Division who said pretty much all things government in the 19th century was "Queen and Country" my words not his, so lots of government property was marked with the V Arrow R. He said it may have been rail though not necessarily from Victoria, but it could also have been military or police.
It's the type of kerosene lamp that you inserted into Railway and Road signals back in the days when someone went around and filled them with an oil can by hand. You probably heard of the song "The Old Lamplighter". VR might refer to the Vermont Railway? Filler cap looks like a replacement. RER
Thanks heaps for that. I've had some interesting feedback from Vic Rail Musieum who think the V arrow R is Queen Victoria as way back then anything that was government in any state belonged to Queen and country (so to speak). It's a beautiful little lamp and I love finding out more about it. Thank you so much for your input I most sincerely appreciate it. Pauline