N&W lantern question

Owen, 

I have been collecting railroad lanterns for many years and I have never seen a white lantern. I have seen lanterns factory painted, red, blue and gray. I would be surprised if the lantern came white from the factory as it would get dirty real quick and not look very nice.

Can you post a picture?

Joe, thanks for the response. Like you, I haven't seen any painted originals, other than a red US Army lantern, and I agree that white would not seem very practical. It will be tomorrow evening before I can get a picture taken, then I'll try to post it. Ain't done it yet on the new forum!

Owen,

I have two N&W lanterns and neither is painted.

Big Jim, thanks for your reply.

Joe, here is a picture of the lantern - an Adlake Kero with the heavy base ring, dated 1-51, unmarked globe, Adlake 400 pot. The picture doesn't really show why I am concerned about the paint job.

It definitely looks like it's been on there a while but I don't believe the railroad painted it that way. If it were me, I would leave it like that for now. Still displays very well.

Joe, thanks for your comments. If you get a chance and are so inclined, would you email me? Address is in profile. I have an off line question regarding your collection of signs. Thanks.

win86,

If you do plane on cleaning it up, please do NOT have the metal portions glass beaded! I would use paint stripper, so as NOT to damage the "original finish" of the metal parts. I just hate to see these "overly restored" lanterns at train shows. The three I have in the garage (PRR, DL&W, & ERIE) are still just as they where when then came off their respective cabooses, back in the mid 1950s.

Hot Water, I agree 100% with you on not bead blasting these pieces. Chemical stripping to remove the paint, and 0000 steel wool to remove excess rust scale is as far as I go. No shine allowed!

School is still out on this lantern. I was hoping that some of the N&W fellows who worked "back then" might have some insight......

For what it's worth, I did not see any white lanterns when I visited the N&W in about 1957, nor did I see any when I was there  working for EMD, starting in mid June 1962 out of Roanoke. However, I never spent any time around any Maintenance of Way equipment either.

Maybe Ed King can shed some light on this. 

That heavy base makes me think that it was not used by any train crews. Mine do not have a base like that and I'm sure a brakeman would hate having to swing that heavy thing around all night long.

I suspect that it was probably used in relation to the car or engine shop personel.

Something else to consider is, did someone modify this base to put on their lamp pole at home?

Never the less, it a good question that deserves a good answer.

Big Jim, this type of lantern was produced by the various manufacturers. Other than it possibly having been painted, it has not been altered.

Often referred to as an "engine lantern", the heavy ring supposedly was intended to increase the weight to an uncomfortable level. This was to ensure that the brakeman/flagman would not permanently "borrow" the lantern from its place in the compliment of lanterns required to be carried on an engine.

The other opinion offered as to the purpose of this design is that the heavy base prevented the lantern from turning over during its rough ride in the cab of a steam engine.

Take your pick as to why they were made....

I used to have a "heavy base" lantern years ago, and I know fro a fact that it came from "engine service". Not from an N&W engine, however.

 I have a red Armspear Manfg.Co.,N&W Ry with red globe.

 This was something given to my late father years ago.How do you date it ? It has "1925" on the top.And on the bottom is stamped patented FEB 2 26 

 Also I see a 50 stamped on the top beside the N&W RY.

 Anybody know what I got or how old it is ?

Your lantern is an Armspear model 1925. This is considered a short globe lantern. Short globe lanterns have globes that are round shaped. Tall globe lanterns, which are older, have pear shaped globes. Short globe lanterns were first manufactured around the first world war. I would date your lantern from between 1926 and 1931. In 1931 Armspear stopped making there own lanterns. After that they were made by Adams and Westlake.

 Cool,I had no idea it was that old I'm sure my dad didn't either ,thanks Joe.

I also have an identical lantern but without paint.  I was always told the base was to make it more stable in engine service.  Perhaps the white was to identify it as belonging to a specific person so it wouldn't walk off as easily.  I use mine once in a while if the power goes off but use lamp oil so as not to get the kerosene smell which my wife can't stand.

George Lasley

While my 1941 Dietz NYC Lantern is on standby for power outages, it really comes in handy at the cottage when we have camp fires.  My grandfather and I are pretty decent harmonica players and it helps to have some light around the fire to see what we're doing.  I also use lamp oil.