This was my grandfather's. He lived from 1875-1966. I've wondered if it was a railroad lantern because he worked in a D&H roundhouse at one time, and because of the handle on it. Otherwise, it looks to me more like a headlight for a pre-WWI auto. But it's painted black over sheet metal not brass, and besides, Grandpa didn't drive. On the back are the words, "Dietz Tubular Driving Lamp, New York, U.S.A." and "Patented 1897".
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It's a headlamp for early cars.
http://www.railroadiana.org/info/pgNotRR.php
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96...tubular-driving-lamp
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Driving Lanterns. It's hard to believe that our high-tech, halogen automotive lamps have combustible-fuel ancestors, but Dietz and other companies made lamps such as the Dietz "Eureka" model at right for the early auto and truck market. This model was shown in a 1917 catalog. See similar Dietz "Octo" and Dietz "Union" driving lamps. Note that these two have bails -- wire handles -- which may make someone think they are railroad lamps. They're not.
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Jerry
No, doesn't seem to be railroad related.
I've seen and demonstrated old miner's lamps that used water and carbide to produce a bright acetylene flame. They have a small water chamber on top with an adjustment to control the drip of water into the carbide. Can you tell what kind of fuel your old driving light was intended to use? Kerosene? Later versions (before electric) may have been carbide lamps.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbide_lamp
http://www.etsy.com/listing/96...tubular-driving-lamp
I've seen and demonstrated old miner's lamps that used water and carbide to produce a bright acetylene flame. They have a small water chamber on top with an adjustment to control the drip of water into the carbide. Can you tell what kind of fuel your old driving light was intended to use?
That appears to be a regular oil lamp based on the photos he posted.
I think automobile lamps that used the carbide system had the water drip system set up on one of the running boards to make the gas which was then piped to each lamp. Earlier autos may have had separate carbide lamps though. I'm not really sure.
Ace, I've always guessed that kerosene would have fueled this old thing. At least, it has a wick such as I've seen in kerosene lamps. However, some early cars used the carbide system you describe but often it was mounted on the car's running board, so who knows?
Thanks guys, for the responses, especially baltimoretrainworks for the photo.
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