oil headlights or miner lights

[marcylove]

My FIL had alot of stuff like this.  He told us at one point that these were old headlights.  I thought they were miner head lamps.  The only one I found similar was on ebay as a miner light, but the strap to fit onto the hat is different.

The ones we have, the strap in the back look like they are a hand-held light.

The only oil headlights I could find seemed to be for mostly trains, but I did find something similar, yet different for a ford model T.

I'd like to find out for sure what these are, and a date for them!

 

[KC]

Toooooo cool!  Gotta run....but just had to look-see.....hope someone responds, if not, will when I get back!

[mariok54]

Hi.. I'm pretty sure, although I'm happy to be proven wrong, that these would not be miners' lamps. I'm fairly confident that they are early car lamps ... take a look at this link, but I'll be searching as well.

http://www.svvs.org/help27.shtml

[Sara Finn]

I'm wondering if these cool lamps of yours have wicks or not, marcylove?

Just wondering if these are oil lamps or carbide lamps.

[mariok54]

ps

If no-one here can pin them down, then there must be a million and one motoring forums out there...

Here's a nice selection of miners' lamps, which helps me think that yours isn't

http://www.holabirdamericana.com/HKA_2008_Cat2/Mining.html

[marcylove]

Thanks for the site mariok!

Sarah, they do have wicks in them.

I'll be trying to re-locate the miner's lamp i found on line.

[talesofthesevenseas]

The red window on the side would seem to indicate to me that these would have been to make them visible from the side on a moving vehicle. Maybe a train, boat or auto?

[talesofthesevenseas]

Here's an 1880-1890 carriage lantern with a "side light" window:

[talesofthesevenseas]

Running searches on the term carriage lantern I'm seeing lots of them similar, but not identical, to yours.

[marcylove]

i never would have though of that...

[sapphire]

I'm wondering if what you have are bicycle lights?

Here are pics of a Lucas Silver King (just as an example)...

http://www.busytrade.com/selling-leads/1486541/Sell-Antique-Vintage-Lucas-Silverking-Bicycle-Oil-Lamp.html

http://www.google.com/images?q=Lucas+Silver+King+Bicycle+Oil+Lamp&hl=en&client=safari&pwst=1&rls=en&prmd=ivs&source=lnms&tbs=isch:1&ei=6u3ETIKJOYKfngeOs9zTCQ&sa=X&oi=mode_link&ct=mode&ved=0CAwQ_AU&biw=1228&bih=684

http://www.liveauctioneers.com/item/7272565


Link found on the Early Cycle Lighting site.....

http://www.websolutionswa.com/pwc/sellamps.asp?LampType=Oil


A 1922 Silver King below (again, just as an example) 

[sapphire]

A shot of an actual one 'in use' 


"A solid tyred tandem bicycle dating circa 1888 with a Joseph Lucas
'King of the Road' oil lamp fitted."

[sapphire]

Even if I may be a bit off base here, the history is interesting.

http://www.websolutionswa.com/pwc/history.asp

[sapphire]

Found this one here.......

http://picasaweb.google.com/chye7959/BicycleOldLampPhoto#

++ P&H Ltd.  DEMON KING BICYCLE OIL LAMP ++ Vintage

[marcylove]

Sapphire I think you hit the nail on the head!!    Now i need to try and find my model!

Thanks guys for all your input!