Lot 415: Two Vintage Metal Railway Lanterns Including a German Second World War Carbide Lamp
A collection of two vintage metal lanterns of industrial and railway design. The larger item is a German Second World War era carbide railway lantern, a type produced for the Deutsche Reichsbahn by makers such as A. Sartorius of Wuppertal. It features a rectangular metal housing with a large circular convex glass lens and a heavy-duty mounting bracket at the rear. The lantern is fitted with a multi-positional curved metal handle. This design was typically used for signalling and illumination by railway personnel, functioning via a carbide and water reaction. The second item is a smaller, slender rectangular lantern of metal construction with clear glass panes and a curved handle attached to a cylindrical chimney. It contains a pink wax candle. Both lanterns are constructed from ferrous metal and glass. Small orange adhesive tags are present on both items, with one hand-marked 4, 1, 5. No permanent manufacturer stamps are clearly visible.
Condition report:
Both lanterns show significant signs of age and wear consistent with industrial use and long-term storage. There is extensive surface oxidation, rust, and pitting across all metal surfaces. The larger lantern exhibits heavy corrosion on the handle and mounting fixtures. The glass components appear intact but are covered in heavy accumulated dust and grime. The lanterns are in unrestored condition.
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