Summary

McGrath type kerosene wall-mounted Guard's Van Lamp and holding bracket. Ex Victorian Railways, early 20th century. Unknown make or origin. No maker's markings visible. Holding ring on bracket has notches at regular spacings to allow reflector and hood to be rotated at various angles.

This style of lamp was originally invented by McGrath, a guard employed on the Victorian Railways in the late 19th century and was subsequently adopted as the standard pattern of lamp issued by the Victorian Railways to all guards up until the period when electric lighting was introduced in all guards' vans.

Similar to lamp registered at ST 43886.

The donor, Fritz Joachim Schlegel, was a Victorian railway employee. He served in the German Army during World War II, and was a 'camera assistant' at the time of his discharge in 1946. He appears to have arrived in Australia some time between 1952 and 1963 and lived for many years with his family near Geelong.

Physical Description

Body, reflector and hood of soldered brass and tin-plated sheet-metal. Cylindrical wick, and necked clear glass chimney. Holding ring on bracket has notches at regular spacings to allow reflector and hood to be rotated at various angles.

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