Posted 12 years ago
lsandms
(5 items)
If you turn this lantern upside down, you will see the bottom of the globe. It was a unique feature of this lantern. The intent was to be able to shine light on objects that were below the lantern. William H Bonnell was granted a patent onApril 11, 1871 for this feature. I would be interested in knowing if other collectors have similar lanterns.
Nice Lantern! I have a few brass top Parmelee & Bonnell RR lanterns in my collection. All but one of them take 6" Barrel globes. One is marked CRRof NJ, one is Erie, one was marked MC RR (I traded it quite a few years ago), and one is unmarked with a CRR red globe. Parmelee & Bonell was bought out by the Steam Gauge Lantern Company in 1875. Your globe is from the Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Ry which went into the New York Central System around 1914.
I have similar lantern with brass top and brass bell.