Crab Railway Reading Lamp

Hinged Case for Crab Railway Reading Lamp

Hinged case for the Crab Railway Reading Lamp, red leatherette and card box with brass hinges and fastener, made by The Patent Safety Candle Grip Company, London. Sold by W H Smith. Paper inside the lid with information about the reading lamp.

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Railway carriages in the nineteenth century were lit by gas or oil light which could flicker or be too dull to read by. These transportable reading candles allowed passengers to bring their own light source on journeys with the candle holder conveniently weighted to sit at the edge of the book to illuminate the words on the page. Station bookstalls such as W.H. Smith sold these candles along with newspapers, books and periodicals.

Measurements:: overall: 40 mm x 122 mm x 75 mm,

Materials:: card , leatherette , brass (copper, zinc alloy) and paper (fibre product)

Object Number:: 1975-7262/1

type:: case

Candleholder from Crab Railway Reading Lamp

Brass crocodile clip candle holder from Crab Railway Reading Lamp. Engraved with "patent" and "Rd 218696". Made by The Patent Safety Candle Grip Company, London. Sold by W H Smith.

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Railway carriages in the nineteenth century were lit by gas or oil light which could flicker or be too dull to read by. These transportable reading candles allowed passengers to bring their own light source on journeys with the candle holder conveniently weighted to sit at the edge of the book to illuminate the words on the page. Station bookstalls such as W.H. Smith sold these candles along with newspapers, books and periodicals.

Materials:: brass (copper, zinc alloy)

Object Number:: 1975-7262/2

type:: candleholder

Candle from Crab Railway Reading Lamp

Candle from Crab Railway Reading Lamp, made by The Patent Safety Candle Grip Company, London. Sold by W H Smith.

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Railway carriages in the nineteenth century were lit by gas or oil light which could flicker or be too dull to read by. These transportable reading candles allowed passengers to bring their own light source on journeys with the candle holder conveniently weighted to sit at the edge of the book to illuminate the words on the page. Station bookstalls such as W.H. Smith sold these candles along with newspapers, books and periodicals.

Materials:: wax

Object Number:: 1975-7262/3

type:: candle

Vesta Case from Crab Railway Reading Lamp

Metal vesta case from Crab Railway Reading Lamp, lid engraved with image of a horse drawn carriage, base engraved with "Bryant & May's, Wax Vestas, Made in England".

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Railway carriages in the nineteenth century were lit by gas or oil light which could flicker or be too dull to read by. These transportable reading candles allowed passengers to bring their own light source on journeys with the candle holder conveniently weighted to sit at the edge of the book to illuminate the words on the page. Station bookstalls such as W.H. Smith sold these candles along with newspapers, books and periodicals.

Materials:: metal (unknown)

Object Number:: 1975-7262/4

type:: match box

Matches from Crab Railway Reading Lamp

27 matches from Crab Railway Reading Lamp, stored inside associated vesta case.

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Railway carriages in the nineteenth century were lit by gas or oil light which could flicker or be too dull to read by. These transportable reading candles allowed passengers to bring their own light source on journeys with the candle holder conveniently weighted to sit at the edge of the book to illuminate the words on the page. Station bookstalls such as W.H. Smith sold these candles along with newspapers, books and periodicals.