How do I identify a railroad lantern?

Look for railroad lanterns with railroad names on them or those with two colored globes which were probably owned by train conductors rather than other railroad personnel. Markings of a particular railroad company like the New York Central Line or the Pennsylvania railroad are highly collectible.

Are old lanterns worth anything?

In general the most valuable lanterns will be fixed globe or presentation lanterns that can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Mid grade lanterns will be tall globe lanterns worth $50 up to several hundred dollars.

What were old red lanterns used for?

Red lights were used to tell a train to stop. Yellow globes, which often look like amber or orange, were used to mark camp cars or to signal that the train needed to slow to receive a message. Blue lanterns were used to mark cars that were not to be moved.

What does a red railroad lantern mean?

stop or danger
At the turn of the 20th century, railroad operators used colored globe lanterns for illumination and signaling at night. The meanings of the colors were the precursors to our modern traffic light system. White was used to indicate that it was safe to proceed, green signaled caution, and red meant stop or danger.

What were blue railroad lanterns for?

This lantern with the blue globe was used by station agents to signal a train to pick up train orders, or to mark equipment that was being worked on and wasn’t to be moved.

How do you clean an old railroad lantern?

After stripping off the old paint, clean the lantern with warm water and grease removing dish detergent. Dry thoroughly with a clean cloth. If your lantern has any rust, and most old railroad lanterns usually do, it’s important to remove it with a rust-removing product such as Naval Jelly.

What is the most valuable railroad lantern?

LONE JACK, MO. – A Union Pacific tall cast blue globe lantern sold for $46,200 in Soulis Auctions’ March 20 sale offering the single-owner, 50-year collection of Railroadiana from Steve “Packrat” Cregut. It is the highest auction record for any railroad lantern to date.

How do you date an old oil lamp?

One excellent way to establish the history of your antique oil lamp is by finding a patent number or date. This is usually on the winder button, but it might also be on the another spot on the burner or base of your lamp. When you find a number of a US-made lamp, look it up on at the US Patent and Trademark Office.

What does yellow lantern represent?

Yellow Lantern (Sinestro) Corps Yellow is the color of fear. Join the original Yellow Lantern — Sinestro — if you are driven by fear, inflicting it upon others, and letting the stuff determine your choices in life. Because in many ways, fear consumes Yellow Lanterns. It becomes them.

How do you get rust off a metal lantern?

Removing a Small Rust Patch Make a paste with salt and vinegar and apply it liberally to the rust. Wait for it to dry; then brush it off and apply more if the rust is still visible.

How do you restore a lantern?

How to Restore Old Kerosene Lanterns

  1. Put on latex gloves.
  2. Pour 1/2 cup of kerosene in a measuring cup.
  3. Apply liquid auto polish using a clean rag.
  4. Spray a small amount of lubricant onto the wick roller.
  5. Clean the glass chimney inside and out with glass cleaner and paper towels.