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A portable reading lamp used in unlit railway carriages. It can be hooked onto upholstery and folded away to pocket size. From the mid-19th C..
This is a portable reading lamp for use in unlit railway carriages. It is made of nickel plated brass, and can be hooked onto upholstery and folded away to pocket size. It dates from the mid-nineteenth century.

1 candle holder: metal (nickel plated on brass), mica; good condition

MERL ‘Associated information’ form – 'Candle Holder // [pencil sketch] // Age // c. 1850 // ... Who used it and where? // For use in unlit railway carriages: the lamp is provided with hooks to fit to upholstery, + folds away to pocket size. // ... Any other information // h. 8" open 5" closed, nickel plated on brass, with metal stone + abrasive strip, + mica "glass" light', MERL Provisional Group Card – 'This is a portable railway candle reading lamp for use in unlit railway carriages. // The lamp is provided with hooks to fit to upholstery + it folds away to pocket size. Its full height is 12 ", open it is 8" in height, when closed 5". // It is nickle [sic] plated on brass and has a metal stone and abrasive strip. It is in working condition. // It is one of a collection, accumulated over several years, and donated by Mr Burkhart [sic] to MERL. See 57/388 - 57/414.', Letter, A. J. Burkart to J. W. Y. Higgs, 22 August 1957 - 'Thank you for your letter of 15th August. I now return the specifications of the lamps I referred to. // Nearly all are in full working order and those that are not, need only minor repair. No. 6 and no 21 are the artistic gems of the collection, though not necessarily the most interesting. // References to Falk are to a Falk, Stadelmann catelogue I was fortunate to acquire which is virtually a catalogue raisonne of lamps for domestic and non-industrial use. References to Robins are to F. W. Robins, "Story of the Lamp" (O.U.P.) 1937...'

1850 - 1850

Metal, brass, Mineral, mica