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Posted 10 years ago
gotlamps
(1 item)
This oil lamp is 10 x 4 inches with a curved glass and a fuel cell that would only hold about an hour or so of fuel. I bought 2 if them and can't find anything like it on line. If anyone knows what it was used for I'd love to know
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It has the characteristics of a kerosene carriage lantern or coach lamp but that curved glass is really unique! In the 1st photo there's appears to be a big ripple across the middle of the glass - is that just a result of the photo angle and lighting?
With the curved oval brass front extending beyond the base it seems that the attachment point (to whatever held it) was via the slots in the front. This makes me wonder if it might have been used to provide interior light for a carriage (or coach) but with the hot parts - and chimney exhaust - mounted on the outside of the carriage.
I couldn't find any other images online either, but given the unique curve on the front it may have been for a custom coach or something that had a limited production (i.e. not that common).
For me it definitely looks like the purpose of this was to provide light to the interior of something (through a window) while keeping the dangerous and smelly parts on the exterior. So the challenge is to figure out what sort of vehicle or structure would have that curve - probably not a submarine!
It also looks like the sort of light source configuration used to power a magic lantern (slide projector) but I've never seen one with the curved front.
Sorry I don't have the solution for you but maybe this will spark some more ideas.
This is a lamp for the side of a ships binnacle. A binnacle held the compass.
I think slackjack is right on. They had both starboard and port lenses and many were made by a company in Union, NJ. I believe they also made running board lights for cars 1912 - 1920 period of time. Yankee Auto Car lamp Co. comes to mind but may not be right.
Yankee still makes boat lights and I think some trailer lights but they are electric now.