As a new collector of lanterns I’ve been looking for collectibles in antique shops. Many of the lanterns I’m finding have a single hole drilled into the bottom. The holes are very cleanly drilled and otherwise consistent from lantern to lantern. Are these holes from the manufacturing process or an attempt at electrification?
If you are talking about the hand lantern variety, they are probably drilled out for the reason you suspect. I would also suspect they are missing the pot if this is the case.
I have noticed that some antique shops think that any railroad lantern they have are worth their weight in gold. I would watch eBay to see what collectors are actually paying for different types of lanterns.
One thing I’ve noticed on eBay, is that the bigger the railroad line the lower the prices range. Good working NYC lanterns tend to be cheaper than lines like Central Vermont. Also clear globes are cheaper than colored.
If you are talking about switch or marker lamps almost all of these have a drain hole in the bottom, usually about 3/16". Many of them are found with the hole enlarged to 1/4" to be electified with standard house lamp parts. Mark
Great thread fellas… I was bidding on a Milwaukee Road 1921-23 ADAMS AND WESTLAKE CO. lantern on ebay. Unfortunately I didn’t win the bidding, time difference and I need my sleep. It went for $51.51 which was a good price for shape it was in, really nice it was. Oh well, better luck next time.
Yeah, i found a CNR 1910’ or 20’s era Conductor or Tail-End brakeman’s lantern, with an almost cobalt blue lens, for $127.00, i saw some on e-bay, but you have to be careful. I got mine at an Antique Mall at The Forks in Winnipeg. Check out this link for the photos.
On the subject, I know something that is very interesting. In a small town in Arkansas, a depot(now agas staton, looks very different) along the Missouri and Arkansas, has lanterns buried in floor. Don’t try to get them though, because they are in concrete. I’ll go check and see what town they are in. aparently, the lanterns wrer put there when a concrete floor was poored to replace the wooden one,
Adlake Kero brakeman’s lanterns from the early 1950’s on had a small drain hole in the middle of the bottom portion where the font would sit.