The Railway Automatic Light Syndicate reading lamp

Made:
1900

Reading lamp, by The Railway Automatic Electric Light Syndicate, Mill Hill Park Station, electrically operated, brass and iron, wall mounted, with penny-in-the-slot feature and magnifying lens, painted mainly red, Davies and Tourtel's patent, with label marked "40/- Reward for Information of Damage leading to conviction".

This coin-operated reading lamp, patented by Davies and Tourtel, was for use in railway carriages. On inserting a penny, a clockwork mechanism operated the lamp for a predetermined time. There is a refund chute for rejected coins and a small button to extinguish the light, which comes on again for any unexpired portion of the allotted time if the large button is operated again. The lamp is a carbon filament type supplied from a 12 volt battery.

Details

Category:
Locomotives and Rolling Stock Components
Object Number:
1975-7264
Materials:
glass, brass (copper, zinc alloy) and iron
type:
lamp - lighting device
credit:
Donated by Alan Archibald Campbell Swinton