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Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently
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Author:  Project-6069 [ Wed Jun 21, 2017 9:17 am ]
Post subject:  Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

I picked up this lamp at an antique mall recently. Sadly it is missing the internal burner and fount. Does anyone have or know where I can get a replacement??

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Author:  Brian Norden [ Wed Jun 21, 2017 10:28 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Try Adams & Westlake (Adlake) itself.
Adlake on-line store

I see fonts and wicks (and lanterns and globes), but not separate burners. I'd contact them and ask about burners.

Author:  S. Wayne Eissele [ Wed Jun 21, 2017 3:45 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

W.T. Kirkman is another possibility. http://www.lanternnet.com

Author:  weekendrailroader [ Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:41 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

S. Wayne Eissele wrote:
W.T. Kirkman is another possibility. http://www.lanternnet.com


I'll second the motion on W.T. Kirkman. I've always have good service with them.

When I buy an antique short globe lantern that is missing it's fount and burner, I usually purchase a #300 fount and bayonet style burner. Sure, it originally may have had larger wick size, have had a threaded burner, and had a wick adjustment wheel rather than the flat rod wick adjuster that is sold today, but as far as operation goes, it works just fine. Plus, it helps keep my "regular burners" standardized, so any fount and burner will work in any lantern.

Also, as a side note, what you have is known as a "Traiman's Lantern". In railroading, the term "Signal Lamp" would usually refer to stationary lamps mounted on switch stands, Marler lamps on cabooses, or the lamps used to illuminate the lenses on semaphore signals.

Author:  David Dewey [ Thu Jun 22, 2017 11:32 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

BTW, you lantern was made in May of 1954.

Author:  Bowmore [ Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:19 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Just for the fun of it, I went to eBay and put in Adlake. There are a ton of lamps, both kerosene and electric, plus ones for switches, etc.

Author:  Project-6069 [ Thu Jun 22, 2017 10:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Thanks David, fits in with her history then..

Author:  Emmo213 [ Fri Jun 23, 2017 9:04 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

David Dewey wrote:
BTW, you lantern was made in May of 1954.


Is there an online database to figure out that information?

Author:  David Dewey [ Fri Jun 23, 2017 2:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

No, it's an "On Lantern" data base! :) the 4-54 stamping on the bottom after "Adlake Kero" is the manufacturing date.

Author:  shrub [ Fri Jun 23, 2017 2:01 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Emmo213 wrote:
David Dewey wrote:
BTW, you lantern was made in May of 1954.


Is there an online database to figure out that information?


Hi Guys,

I am pretty sure this hand lantern was made in the 4th quarter of 1954... (4-54 stamped on bottom)
I believe you will not find any of these short globe lanterns with a number other than 1 / 2 /3 or 4 before the year of manufacture. Hence dated to only a quarter of the year.

Always makes me laugh when you see one of these "recent" short-globe lanterns advertised as being much older (like late 1800's, early 1900's etc...) obviously by someone who has no idea about railroad lanterns... when the manufacturing date is clearly visible on the bottom.

Versions of these lanterns made much later in production have a smooth bottom with no date at all... think the latest dates I have seen are in mid to late 1960's..

Hope this helps!

Peter

Author:  David Dewey [ Fri Jun 23, 2017 2:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Peter, you may be right about the first number--I would have sworn I'd seen larger first numbers, but in looking at my (limited) collection, I don't find any over 4. I'd always been told it was the month, but the quarter also makes sense.
I too, get a kick out of "antique 1900s lantern" with a 1940s or 1950s date stamped in it.
What is somewhat surprising is how few there are--these things were the Flashlights of there day, made in the 100s of thousands. Around 1960 there were stacks of them in the scrap pile in the Dunsmuir yards when everyone went to battery powered lanterns. I'm certain every other division headquarters had such a pile.

Author:  Jason Whiteley [ Fri Jun 23, 2017 10:52 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

If you really want to learn about lanterns and other railroadiana, go to:

www.railroadiana.org/

They have an excellent write-up on Adlake lanterns and a very helpful Q & A board. I've reached out to them a few times and found their experts to be a great source of information.

Jason

Author:  crij [ Sat Jun 24, 2017 10:04 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Not to drift this topic too far, I have an Adlake 100 marked for the NY,NH&H. I was wondering if anyone had a spare globe to fit this former New Haven lantern (blank or etched)?

Adlake only has globes for the later 300 model (which they still make), and Kirkman doesn't carry a direct fit, thou when I went through all the sizes a while ago, one or two sounded like they would be close enough to fit with slight modification (diamond file and/or glass cutter).

Thanks,
Rich C.

Author:  Project-6069 [ Tue Jun 27, 2017 11:43 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

Appreciate the replies and links folk's cheers.
I have been told that these were unpainted in service. is there a way of stopping them rusting overtime if stripped to bare metal like a clear coat or something?? Also am I missing a wooden handle on the top?

Author:  Jason Whiteley [ Tue Jun 27, 2017 1:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Picked up a nice Adlake signal lamp recently

The wooden handles were common for the CPR lanterns but not for the CN. Looks like you have the correct handle.

Regarding the preservation, I don't think you really need to do anything to preserve the finish provided you keep it out of the rain / damp conditions. I have a completely unused CNR lantern from the 60s that has never been treated and looks fine.

Jason

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