Brass Buggy Lamp
This is a square-shaped lamp made of metal. It is painted black
There are four sides:
front panel is clear glass
back panel is metal with a small red-coloured glass circle (this was also a hinged panel allowing for change of the candle inside)
left side of panel is metal, the right side of panel is glass.
The interior is painted silver and is used as a reflector. (Many lamps included a mirror or reflector to help cast light and increase visibility on the road),
The lighting mechanism inside the glass holds a white candle with wick. Top of lamp is a chimney with one hood (air duct to ensure proper ventilation for the flame).
The brass lamp is a candle-powered lantern for lighting horse-drawn carriages
Details
Details
Inscription at top of side panel "Patent"
Carriage lamps such as these were used on almost any type of carriage, being fastened one on each side of the vehicle near the front.
They are candle lamps, rectangular in shape, with ventilation at the top for the smoke to escape. There is a small round red window in the back so that the lamp showed a 'tail light'.
As the candle burns down over time and the flame is no longer in front of the reflector or in the focal point of the concave mirror, a metal spring pushes the candle upwards so that the flame always burns in the right place in front of the reflector.
