I picked up an old oil lamp today and I’m not sure if it’s railroad related or not. It has a large red lens and a small white one on the side. The only mounting gear is a bolt at the back. Was this used on any railroads? Most of the marker lamps I’ve seen seem to have three lenses. I’ve included pictures. Thanks in advance for any help you can give me.
EDIT: There is no lettering or stamping anywhere on the lamp to give a manufacturer or anything.
I don’t think it looks rurgged enough or large enough to be railroad…more likely a coach or early auto lamp… Perhaps the lenses have been replaced all the way around but the white to the side would probably not have been railroad…could even be a boat running light, but again not rugged enough looking for that either. Or it could be an early highway warning light of some kind as I don’t see a hanger, clip, bail, hook, etc. And it is too black and shiny…me thinks the whole thing has been put together and modified.
As soon as I read Henry6’s post I think I figured it out. There is no small white light on the opposite side, is there?
The bolt on the back would fasten it to an early car body. The red light is obviously a tail light and the small white light would be for lighting a license plate. Many trucks still use a much smaller, less elegant, type of tail light today.
Bruce
Makes total sense, Bruce…
You’re right- it looks like an early car/carriage light. Once you said that, I searched for it and found a few examples that look very similar.
It’s kind of disappointing- I’d hoped it was railroad related, but I think it will still make a nice display item. Thank you for the responses!