Abby K-9 Posted February 22, 2010 Share #1 Posted February 22, 2010 Someone just donated this to the museum and we'd love to know more about it. It was made by the Majestic Metal, Spinning & Stamping Company, Inc. in Brooklyn, NY. A quick web search shows that the company was in business on 61 Navy Street and produced items until at least the 1960s. The lamp has a wooden handle and has been cleaned, according to the person who donated it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby K-9 Posted February 22, 2010 Author Share #2 Posted February 22, 2010 Back view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cutiger83 Posted February 22, 2010 Share #3 Posted February 22, 2010 I don't know anything about it but this is a cool lantern. Do you know how the Civil Defense would have used this lantern? Thanks...Kat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby K-9 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share #4 Posted February 23, 2010 I have no idea how they might have used this lantern. I'm assuming during blackouts? Or really any time a big flashlight would be useful. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Keith Posted February 23, 2010 Share #5 Posted February 23, 2010 Is it marked for the CD in any way? Most contract CD items are marked "Property of OCD" or similar. With the green paint and wooden handle, it does appear to be WW II vintage. It doesn’t appear to have any "blackout" features where you can shield the light. I could have been used by someone in the CD, but not actually "issue". Does it have a "Ceiling Price" OPA marking? Neat looking lantern. I'll keep an eye out when looking at any of my CD paper if I spot it. BKW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby K-9 Posted February 23, 2010 Author Share #6 Posted February 23, 2010 There is a Civil Defense logo (circle with a triangle with the letters CD) embossed on the back of the battery cover (the part that unscrews). You can kinda see it in the second photo, in the lower right. There's no OPA marking on it that I'm aware of, just the manufacturer's info on the side and the CD logo on the back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted February 23, 2010 Share #7 Posted February 23, 2010 I am not 100% sure but I think this may be a railroad signal lamp. The handle is used to swing the lamp back and forth to signal an oncoming train. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kjones5452 Posted February 23, 2010 Share #8 Posted February 23, 2010 I am not 100% sure but I think this may be a railroad signal lamp. The handle is used to swing the lamp back and forth to signal an oncoming train. Rob You hit on it.I was issued one just like this when I hired on the Seaboard Coastline Railroad back in the early 70s. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted February 23, 2010 Share #9 Posted February 23, 2010 You hit on it.I was issued one just like this when I hired on the Seaboard Coastline Railroadback in the early 70s. Thanks for confirming, the shape of the handle was the tipoff for me. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abby K-9 Posted February 24, 2010 Author Share #10 Posted February 24, 2010 Why would a railroad lamp have a Civil Defense logo embossed on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixbayonets! Posted February 24, 2010 Share #11 Posted February 24, 2010 Why would a railroad lamp have a Civil Defense logo embossed on it? It would make sense for members of the CD who were patrolling railyard areas or cities/towns that had railroad tracks running through them. If bombs had damaged the tracks a member of the Civil Defense might be the one to signal the train to stop. Rob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gwb123 Posted February 25, 2010 Share #12 Posted February 25, 2010 Or it could be just as simple as adapting a proven civilian item for government use. This thing has 1,000 uses the way it is designed, starting with the fact that you could sit it on the ground. You can swing it around to signal someone, you can hang it on a vehicle or a building... on and on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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