How do I identify a railroad lantern?
Look for railroad lanterns with railroad names on them or those with two colored globes which were probably owned by train conductors rather than other railroad personnel. Markings of a particular railroad company like the New York Central Line or the Pennsylvania railroad are highly collectible.
What are the parts to an oil lamp?
Most kerosene oil lamps are designed with a chimney, a burner, a collar, wick, a shade, and a shade collar.
What do railroad lantern colors mean?
At the turn of the 20th century, railroad operators used colored globe lanterns for illumination and signaling at night. The meanings of the colors were the precursors to our modern traffic light system. White was used to indicate that it was safe to proceed, green signaled caution, and red meant stop or danger.
What are the parts of a lantern called?
Lantern Terminology
- Bail. The handle of a lantern, formed in a semicircular shape.
- Burner. The metal device that holds the wick and ratchet to advance the wick.
- Fount.
- Frame.
- Globe.
- Globe retainer.
- Horizontals.
- Markings.
What is the most valuable lantern?
– A Union Pacific tall cast blue globe lantern sold for $46,200 in Soulis Auctions’ March 20 sale offering the single-owner, 50-year collection of Railroadiana from Steve “Packrat” Cregut. It is the highest auction record for any railroad lantern to date.
Are old lanterns worth money?
In general the most valuable lanterns will be fixed globe or presentation lanterns that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Mid grade lanterns will be tall globe lanterns worth $50 up to several hundred dollars.
What do you call the part of an oil lamp that holds the oil?
A lamp collar is the top part of an oil lamp. It is a metal or glass ring that fits around the wick to hold it in place. The lamp collar also serves as a guard to prevent the flame from coming into contact with the oil reservoir.
How do you fix an oil lamp?
How to Repair an Oil Lamp
- Know the parts of the oil lamp.
- Find spare oil lamp parts.
- Clean the chimney.
- Add oil to the lamp.
- Replace the wick.
- Trim the wick.
- Explore the Internet for replacements if other parts of the oil lamp are needed.
How do you clean old railroad lanterns?
After stripping off the old paint, clean the lantern with warm water and grease removing dish detergent. Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth. If your lantern has any rust, and most old railroad lanterns usually do, it’s important to remove it with a rust-removing product such as Naval Jelly.
What are railroad colors?
Railroad Signal Association (R.S.A.) Signal Blue, Signal Purple and Signal Lunar White are all shades of what is euphemistically referred to as “cobalt-blue” glass, but the R.S.A. colors when lit, are without question, most distinctly different.
What are lantern mantles?
In a nutshell, a lantern mantle is a device used to generate bright white light when heated by a flame.
What is the top part of a lantern called?
When did railroads stop using kerosene lanterns?
[Regarding a question about how long kerosene lanterns lasted on the railways]: They were still in use when I finally quit railroading in 1965, but their use by trainmen and switchmen as signal lanterns had ended about 1962.
How can you tell how old a lamp is?
Lamp Maker’s Mark
One of the first places to look for a date stamp or the maker’s hallmark begins with an examination of the base of the lamp. Antique Lamp Supply recommends picking up the lamp and looking for a manufacturer’s symbol, name or date stamp embedded into the base.
How long does a wick last in an oil lamp?
If the replacement wick cannot reach the oil it will dry out and extinguish itself. An 8 inch wick will last through about 15 gallons of lamp oil (that’s enough wick to burn 24 hours a day for 320 days). Consider this: The distance from the top of the wick to the fuel, for any average oil lamp or lantern, is 6 inches.
Can you use olive oil in an oil lamp?
Olive oil is definitely the best option for oil lamps, primarily because it does not produce smoke while burning. Since it is a 99 percent pure renewable fuel, it will not produce smoke or odor. The same cannot be said for other vegetable oils such as canola or corn oil.
How do I replace the wick in my oil lamp?
Replacing The Wick In A Oil Lamp – YouTube
How do I fix my oil lamp wick?
Replace the wick. Unscrew the burner unit and screw out the old wick from the backside. Discard the old wick, being careful not to drip the oil onto surfaces. Thread the new wick into the burner unit from the bottom, and screw until 1/2 inch of the wick tip is visible.
How do you restore a rusty lantern?
Fill a plastic container with enough vinegar to submerge the lamp completely. Saturate the solution with salt until it is dissolved to fortify the vinegar and make it work faster. Let the lamp soak for several hours but you should check on it every hour or two until the rust is gone.
How do you get rust off a metal lantern?
You can remove rust by rubbing it with an abrasive, such as steel wool, but that treatment is likely to scratch a delicate antique. You can also dissolve rust with acid, while vinegar — mixed with salt — is just strong enough to do the job without harming the metal.
What is the blue line painted on railroad tracks?
What Is This Blue Line That’s Painted on The Railroad Tracks – YouTube
What is a blue carded locomotive?
Blue cards have more to do with safety standards and inspections and not the type of equipment. As far as the FRA is concerned you are doing interplant switching. If you run on track where freight is handled for pay, you need a blue card.
How often do you replace lantern mantles?
Beyond replacing damaged mantles, American Gas Lamp Works recommends that you replace your mantles at least once per year. Changing your mantles annually will ensure that your lamp remains bright and fuel-efficient.
What can I use for a lantern mantle?
Things You’ll Need
The mantle is usually made from artificial silk or rayon fabric. The fabric is completely soaked with an earth oxide. Thorium is an example of a rare earth oxide that can be used to saturate the fabric. The mantle is then placed inside of the lantern.
What is the glass top of a lamp called?
Crown — On a hanging lamp, the decorative trim ring on the top of the shade, or the ring that secures (holds) the shade from the top. Cutting — A method of decorating glass whereby portions of the glass are removed by grinding and polishing.