This is an Australian made gasoline lamp made for South East Queensland Railways (hence the SEQR tag given to the lamps). Matt Purtell's research identified a connection with a company called The Akron Light Company, in Melbourne (Australia) . Neil McRae (@Mackburner) has a good listing in the PLC (under SEQR) that summarises the information on these lamps. Any connection between these lamps and Akron in the USA is merely speculative. @Anthony has a very good post here, comparing some of the variations in these lamps. One thing is for certain: the lamps, while being generally the same, have many variations. I re-packed the generator. The nipple is not removable. This clip may be for an insect screen. Up and running The lamp cage was lined (integrally) with mica originally but the mica was very broken and flaky. I may make another mica to hang inside the mesh cage, but I'm not quite sure why it needs both the mesh and the mica - except that the mica will reduce the glare somewhat. I note that in the Reference Gallery, there are both mica and mesh globes. This is a fabulous lamp - much bigger and brighter than I imagined. I've been using it every day in the workshop. Many thanks to Vic Tipman. Cheers Tony Cheers Tony
Great stuff Interesting that there are different variations on this distinctive looking lantern from so long ago now.. .. are they easy to carry/ pick up? I kind of think they might have benefitted from a handle of some sort but obviously I don’t know and am surmising?? am I right in thinking there used to be a piece of wire or similar underneath the circular disc? Does anyone know what it was used for at all? apologies for all the queries in advance Best wishes pb
1. They are easy enough to pick up two handed; but not one-handed. The were designed, I think, to be slid into a frame on the wall of a train carriage — but I’ve never seen a photograph of one in situ. The round disc on mine had paint ingrained into its rim. 2. In the photo below the green arrows point to where an elongated wire loop was attached by solder (see the link to @Anthony’s post above). I speculated it was for holding spare mantles. I think Matt Purtell did, too. The red arrow points to an “aftermarket” hole cut in the disc, that I imagine was for hanging the lamp on a hook. The blue arrow points to a hole, the purpose of which I have no idea. Cheers Tony
Thanks, Nils. It was so roughly cut, I thought it was a homemade job! @Anthony, Do yours have this hole at the top? Cheers Tony @Nils Stephenson
Both mine have the holes but not the same size or shape and it looks like they were modified with an old style can opener. Probably done by purchaser rather than maker.
Yes, it could have been done in the railway workshop on all the lamps they received. The holes do seem a bit crude to have come from the factory that way.
