Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Lantern

Delaware, Lackawanna & Western bell bottom railroad lantern made by the Star Headlight & Lantern Co., in Rochester, NY, but private-labeled for The Roberts Safety Lantern Mfg. Co., of Scranton, PA. The evolutionary features of this Star model date it to about 1910. The lantern is prominently marked D L & W R R on the lid reflector in unusual, large, serifed letters, and embossed THE ROBERTS SAFETY LANTERN MFG CO., SCRANTON PA, on the chimney top. The 6-inch tall, clear, extended base globe is nicely embossed DL&WRR. The unique and patented Roberts two-tab, Sangster spring, plug-in fount is intact, and equipped with the Roberts parlor match turret, holding four parlor match heads. The match striker can be seen on the rim of the fixed, no. 2 ratchet burner. The burner's ratchet shaft is fitted with a gear which meshes with the wick adjuster shaft protruding through the bottom of the fixed base. The removable oil plug permits fueling the lantern without removing the burner, which, on this later Roberts configuration, is soldered to the fount. At least three manufacturers private-labeled lantern models for Roberts; these include the Star Headlight & Lantern Co., the C.T. Ham Mfg Co., and the Kelly Lamp Co. A SG&L Co., model may also exist. Several evolutionary variations of the Roberts lighting mechanism exist, dating from the late 1880's, through about 1915.