RARE Antique Skaters Lantern/Mini Oil Lamp RED GLOBE Start Price USD 49.99 Current Price USD 2,650.00 Time Left - Bid Count 26 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Thursday, August 28, 2008 End Time Sunday, September 07, 2008 Location Stockton, New Jersey See more about 'RARE Antique Skaters Lantern/Mini Oil Lamp RED GLOBE' Description Antique Frosted Brass ("Klondike", "Cadet", "Gem" or other) Skater's Lantern with Cherry-Red Globe, Ca. 1885-1915 Brass Skater's Lamp with cherry red globe About 11 1/2" to top of bail handle About 6 1/2" tall to top of cap About 3 1/8" in diameter at base Brass ("Klondike", "Cadet", "Gem" or other) Skater's Lamp with Cherry Red Globe Similar to S2-8, Far Right and S2-9 With red globe, rated "rare" Manufacturer undetermined; manufactured Ca. 1885-1915 Burner marked "W.B.G. Co WATERBURY CT" One minor dent in top cap vent holes Rich red globe to be seen rather than to see Background & History:  There are several remarkably similar little "Skater's" lamps, or lanterns, among which it can be difficult to distinguish.   One of these is the "Klondike" shown on the far right in Figure 8 of Ruth Smith's book "Miniature Lamps II"; another is the "Jewel" shown in Figure 9 of the same book.  Anthony Hobson (in his books "Lanterns Which Lit our World", Volumes 1 and 2) shows one labeled "Cadet", another labeled "The Little Gem" and a tin lantern labeled "Pearl".  We've also seen an unlisted lamp called "Little Bob's" and one or more others with unspecified names.  These lamps vary in the shape, placement and size of the vent holes in the cap and below the burner and in the shape of the font.  Some are made of brass, some of tin and some are found in both tin and brass versions.  Without close inspection, it's tough to tell one from the other.  (An exception to this should be the "Jewel" shown in Figure 9 of Ruth Smith's book; although her book does not mention it, these lanterns have the word "Jewel" embossed on the top of the cap and sometimes have the word "Jewel" embossed on the glass globe.  We suspect that the lamp shown in Figure 9 may not actually be a "Jewel" but may be another one of these very similar and easily confused lanterns).  This lantern appears to be identical in configuration to the Klondike and the Jewel, as shown in the Smith book, and to the Cadet and the Little Gem shown in the two Hobson books.  However, this lamp is just 6 1/2" tall to the top of the cap, while the Klondike is quoted at being 7 1/4" tall and the Jewel at 7" tall (Hobson does not provide measurements for the Cadet or the Little Gem). This lamp has a burner that is clearly marked (on the thumb wheel) "W. B. G. Co. WATERBURY CT"..  We were able to find a reference (in Fil Graff's "The Lamp Collector's Guide, Second Edition") to the Waterbury Brass Company which used the initials "W. B. Co." on its thumb wheels, but no reference to a "W. B. G. Co."  Since the "W. B. G. Co." was clearly located in Waterbury, Ct (as was Waterbury Brass), we suspect that "W. B. Co." and "W. B. G. Co." are the same company (perhaps at one point the company styled itself as the Waterbury Brass & Glass Company).  As for the approximate date of manufacture, we know that the "Klondike" and "Jewel" lanterns were listed in a 1912 wholesaler's catalog.  Hobson dates the similar "Cadet" lantern as between 1887 and 1914.  (We also found a listing for a Cadet lantern pictured in the 1892 catalog of Pitkin & Brooks, Chicago, wholesalers of crockery, china and lamps). Thus, we'd estimate this lamps date of manufacture as somewhere between 1885 and 1915. Skater's lamps are interesting in that their name conjures up rather romantic images of the Victorian era.  Several authors do mention them being used by skater's and Hobson suggests that they were placed on the edge of the ice, where the skater's left their shoes after putting on their skates,  to mark the location of their shoes.  These little lanterns (with clear glass globes) show up fairly frequently (we've recorded over 600 sightings in the past 6 years on eBay and at various live auctions).  So, unless we're prepared to believe that our Victorian forbears all spent a good deal of their time gliding around on ice on winter evenings, it makes more sense to think of these little lanterns as general purpose outdoor lights which could easily be carried around and which would not be subject to being blown out by the wind.  In fact, Thuro ("Oil Lamps III") calls these kind of lanterns generically  "Hurricane Lanterns" rather than Skater's Lamps.  And Hobson ("Lanterns That Lit Our World, Book Two") describes a similar lantern (the "Pearl) being advertised as "useful for decorating yachts, motor boats, regattas and lawn parties".  The 1892 Pitkin & Brooks catalog describes the Cadet lantern as "a small lantern for house use."  While many of these lamps were used the way we use flashlights today (in order to see at night, especially outdoors), Hobson points out that the colored globes which were available for these lanterns at extra cost were "to be seen" rather than to see by.  That supports their use as decorative outdoor items and as markers for one's shoes at the edge of the skating ice or perhaps, even as some sort of signaling device.  That these lanterns were available with colored globes is evidenced by the listing in a 1912 wholesale catalog which offers these lanterns with "red, white [clear?] and blue" globes. While, as noted above, these lanterns with clear glass globes are exceedingly common (showing up on eBay on average about twice a week), lanterns like this one with a colored glass globe are exceedingly hard to find.  In fact, Hulsebus ("The Price Guide for Miniature Lamps") rates this type of brass lantern with a ruby globe as being "rare" (see the note below on our use of these ratings in eBay listings).  And our data supports that rating; over the past 6 years we've seen just 2 complete and undamaged examples of a brass lantern and 1 tin lantern with ruby globes.  Smith reports that the "Klondike"  was pictured in Butler Brothers' 1912 wholesale catalog and was priced, wholesale, at $1.75/dozen  or $.146 each (that's about $38.55/dozen or about $3.21 each in today's dollars) A similar lantern in tin, shown in the same catalog, sold for $.79/dozen (or about $1.45 each in today's dollars). Hobson claims that a similar tin lantern (the "Pearl") sold retail in 1909 for about $1.67 each  (about $39.65 each in today's dollars) although that doesn't sound realistic in comparison to the documented wholesale price of the "Klondike".  The Cadet listed in the Pitkin and Brooks catalog sold for $4.00 in brass (about $113.98 in today's dollars or about $9.50 each) and for $5.00 in nickel (about $12 in today's dollars).  There certainly seem to have been as many different prices for these lanterns as there were models and brands! Condition of this lamp:  This brass lantern was beautifully polished when we acquired it (from a collector who specialized in lanterns like this and clearly took loving care of them).  It is in truly fine condition, with the only discernible defect being a small (about 3/8" by 5/16") shallow dent in the area of the vent holes on the top cap near the bail handle (see the last photo).  The cherry red globe is in outstanding condition with no chips, cracks, flea-bites or other discernible defects; the color is bright and rich.  The glass itself has a wonderful rippled, almost optic, quality characteristic of old glass. As mentioned above, the burner thumb wheel, which turns freely, is marked "W. B. G. Co. WATERBURY CT".  There is no wick in this lantern.   The bottom of the lantern, which appears to be tin, is solid and shows no signs of holes or rust. Although we have not tested it, we believe the font would hold fuel without leaking.  Measurements are provided below the first photo to the left. This is a truly fine example of a lantern with a stunning, rare cherry red globe from the early part of the 20th century, one that may have been used as a decorative outdoor item or perhaps even to mark the spot where some Victorian ice skaters left their shoes. About the Use of Words Like "Scarce" and "Rare" When we see eBay listings which utilize words like "Scarce" and "Rare"--especially when those words are applied to items that we know to be extra-ordinarily common we find it disturbing.  We realize that some eBayers, not having or knowing of a better way of assessing an item's scarcity, use these terms quite subjectively and frequently based on their own personal experience. They simply don't know whether an item is common, scarce or rare.  We take two steps to describe the scarcity of a lamp. First, we only use the words "Scarce", "Rare", "Very Rare", "Very Very Rare" and "Extremely Rare" if the item in question is judged to be so by an acknowledged outside and independent source.  For miniature lamps, we use the ratings in Marjorie Hulsebus 2006 edition of the "Price Guide for Miniature Lamps".  Marjorie's ratings are also somewhat subjective (they are based on the collective view of a panel of 12 experienced miniature lamps collectors--we were members of that panel), but were at least arrived at independently of the sale or offering of any particular lamp.  We don't always agree with the Price Guides ratings but if we disagree, we will still quote the guide's rating and then provide the reason why we don't agree. Second, over the past 6 years we have collected and recorded data on the offering of over 36,000 listed miniature lamps on eBay and over 3,400 lamps offered at selected live auctions (ones which we attended or from which we were able to get reliable data).  Every day we review several thousand new eBay listings; from amongst those, we identify those that are listed in the standard reference books and record basic information (identifying features, condition, auction end-date, etc.) on each one.  When the auction ends we go back and record whether it sold or not and for how much.  We keep all of this data in an online database and make the database available free of charge to members of the Night Light Club and to others who have requested access.  We don't see every listed miniature lamp that's offered on eBay, but we estimate that we see more than 85-90% of them.  When we quote the Price Guide's scarcity rating for a given lamp, we generally also provide information, from our database, on the number of times during the period we've collected data that we've seen that lamp offered on eBay.  And it's this data that allows us to substantiate, refine or, at times, to respectfully disagree with the rating in the Price Guide. Our objective is to have happy, satisfied customers.  We will work with you to satisfactorily resolve any problems. Feel free to ask any questions prior to bidding.  We try to answer all questions promptly.  Just click on eBay's "Ask seller a question" link above to send us an email through eBay. Please bid only if you intend to honor your bid with payment. All items are sold "As Is". We do our best to describe all items accurately. However, mistakes and oversights can occur. Returns will be accepted within 7 days if item is found to be not as described. In general refunds will be given as money back and will include the original bid amount and initial shipping costs (but not the return shipping cost). Refunds will be given once the item is received and verified to be in the same condition as when it was sold. 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We now offer two shipping options for International shipments.  While USPS Global Priority Mail is more expensive, shipments using this service can be fully insured.  USPS First Class International Mail is significantly less expensive but is not insurable and has some size limitations (less than 4 lbs and less than 36" in length + height + depth); our own insurance will cover International shipments sent via First Class International Mail up to $200.  Contact us before making payment if you'd like us to use the uninsured but less expensive shipping option. Interested in learning more about miniature lamps?  Want to meet other miniature lamp collectors?  Contact Bob Culver at rculver107@aol.com to learn about joining the Night Light Club. Please check out our other auctions     On Aug-28-08 at 11:33:17 PDT, seller added the following information:  In response to a couple of questions we've had about this lantern, we want to clearly state that the globe is red through and through; the color is in the glass and is not flashed onto the glass.  We have also found two faint mold lines on either side of the globe indicating that it was made in a two-part mold.  We did not find any number or other symbol or text embossed anywhere on the globe.  We hope this additional information will be helpful in deciding whether or not to bid on this lantern and we apologize for not including or making this information clear in the original listing. Place a Bid!