DARKLANTERN

Thanks Brian: Match strike strip (sandpaper), it is a speculation. The tank was improved due to the experiences, I Think. Also, the curve door, It was difficult to manufacture. Too ergonomics for those times. The lantern, It is a primitive model to be refined later. Regards: Juan

Hi Brian: I rescued the lamp during the weekend. Years ago, they sent me the lantern from Canada. It was very dirty. The oil stuck it all. The door would not open. The dark-slide did not work... Yesterday, I plunged the lamp in a pot with water. I cook the lantern for a while. I even cleaned more. Crescent Lamp from Canada This lamp is closer to the patent. It is a very old specimen. The door is curved: “and a fiat or slightly-concave rear side adapted to lie against the wearer, and in which the front portion is hinged to a back plate attached to the waist-belt, so that the front portion may fold outwardly with the lamp to give access to the latter” This is the reason for the double hook. The chimney does not have the front reinforcement. It has a single label, welded (no rivets). The tank has no vent brass and surface to strike a match to light it does not exist. Although you may have ever existed. There is the ghost of a rectangle. A faint cut mark. Perhaps it was a scratching paper. The scraper of matches, the back of the chimney, it would not be the original.

Hi: I read the post, it is very interesting. It is also one of my favorite lamps. I've had three. One is the gave my brother. I have another from Canada (the seller said that belonged to rail way). I must rescue. It is the most faithful to the Bicknell Patent: "My invention relates to certain improvements in dark-lanterns for the use of policemen, watchmen, and others. It is an improvement on that general form of lantern which is constructed with a rounded front side and a fiat or slightly-concave rear side adapted to lie against the wearer, and in which the front portion is hinged to a back plate attached to the waist-belt, so that the front portion may fold outwardly with the lamp to give access to the latter.” By the way, from an article by unknown author: An oil lamp for police duty, known as "The Crescent Lamp" was patented by Captain Bicknell, and was reported to be in use all over England and in the colonies. In 1894, he stated that 10,000 lamps were in use, and it was said that they had nearly superseded all others. In July, 1890, the Chief Constable of Edinburgh wrote to Captain Bicknell with a view to using the Crescent Lamp in conjunction with a liquid heater which he had invented. Captain Bicknell would not agree to this and said. "I wish you every success, but do not think that the men in this country will be allowed to boil coffee on their beats."

Hi: One of my crescent lamps, it is marked with the 26 number:

Hi Brian: Certainly, I also think so. A greeting: Juan

He Brian: Of the 10 police lights I have in my collection, only three have indications that have been used by the police. HIATT This lamp has stamped whit MP (Metropolitan Police) and 9259 484. VERITAS The VERITAS trade mark is not usually make police lanterns. This lamp was used for Whithall police in the nineteenth century. W0OTTON POLICE LAMP

Hello Brian: About 30 years ago, i worked in mining research. We had problems with the electric miner lamps. We visited the hardware store the small town. We buy calcium carbide lamps. Sometimes, obsolete items are most effective. That's when, i started collecting miner's lamps. Five years later. My father asked me about the dark lanterns. There was talk of these lamps, in many novels. I could not imagine how they were. Soon after, I bought my first Hiatt. In these 20 years, I have never known a website dedicated to police lanterns. There are many sites de militaria, memorabilia, handcuffs etc... but nothing as complete as this topic. Regards: Juan

Thank you Brian: Is there a problem if I put forward dark lanters used in other countries? Regards: Juan

Sorry for my English: This dark lantern has two singularities; It is made in Spain and the fuel is calcium carbide: It was made by an inventor of Barcelona. Inspired by the watchmen spanish lanterns and British police lanterns. For information on calcium carbide lamps, you can see, my post about the history of the autonomous lighting: http://rasgandolaoscuridadhistoriailuminacio.blogspot.com.es/2014/08/historia.html Regards: Juan

Thank you very much. I try to convince my son to translate the posts to English. I have a crescent lamp, from Canada. Apparently it was used on the railways. It is more accurate to the patent, which the lamp I present in the lamp post.. I have it in a box in an old attic. I have to photograph this lamp. Regards: Juan

Hello: I am a Spanish collector. I collect autonomous lighting lamps. I edit a blog with my collection. Now I'm working on police lamps. http://rasgandooscuridadpolicias.blogspot.com.es/2015/05/inglesas.html Congratulations on this website