Here is my carbide railway lamp from WW2 era Germany. All original parts and everything seems to function. The reflector was tarnished so I used copious amounts of fine (1000, 1500 grit wet/dry) sandpaper to get it back to a reasonable shine. The photo shows a temporary aluminum foil on the reflector before the sandpaper application. Since I have no carbide at this time I used a small candle in the burner location for a simple light up.
WWII era indeed. Most of this type, including mine, are from the Deutsche Bundesbahn post-1949 period, latest I’ve seen a 1960 date. John
Why railroad? They used inspection or working lanterns, spot lights. Signalling was supposed to be one directional, one colour. As it is today.
@Wim The second photo shows the logo DR which I believe is "Deutsche Reichsbahn" ....so railway it is. This is from Wikipedia.
That logo could have been pre WW2 as well. Was it 1933 that the 3rd Reich came into being? The only thing possibly pointing to wartime construction is the use of steel.
Obviously not @Carlsson, I meant that steel was used for the carcase of post-war examples too, as is the case with the one I have dating from the mid-fifties. Nils had said the a steel carcase (and not brass presumably) could be an indicator of wartime economies. I’ve seen a brass example but they can’t be as common. Most likely steel was preferred for its greater resistance than brass to knocks and scrapes in an industrial setting.
Possibly 1933-1945. Some Post war models had the year embossed. This one is from same manufacturer as mine.
@Blueflame , I think you meant @WimVe when you tagged me (@Wim ) Btw, I'll have to take a look at my German laterne to see if it is the same as yours. It came in a carry box including the acetylene burner, wicky, candles etc.
You brought that to Newark once Wim? I’ve certainly seen that type of boxed set there. I had to steady my beating heart with a Laphroaig. John
Exactly John! @presscall I had it with me at our last Newark meet, 2019, the pre-Covid19 era.You gave me a box of funny smelling stones that start bubbling when they see water! Any excuse is a good one to enjoy a Laphroaig! (do you also posses a square foot of land on the Isle of Islay?)
