Antique Railroad Inspection Torch Cast Iron Taylor & Boggis Furnace Lamp No. 1

Nice antique cast iron railroad kerosene torch lamp. Embossed The Taylor & Boggis Fdy. Co, Cleveland, Ohio" on one side and "Furnace Lamp No.

Fdy is an abbreviation for Foundry. This lamp is sometimes called a teapot lamp due to the shape. It has a strong wire bail handle, tin screw on cap or lid with original interior liner. Cap screws on an off easily. There is a small ¼ hole opposite the spout along the base. I'm not sure the purpose or if it had some sort of plug or screw. The lamp is about 4 ¾" diameter, 9.5" wide including spout, 7.5" tall to cap, 10" tall to top of bail handle. A railway locomotive inspector used this kerosene torch to inspect parts of a steam locomotive when natural light was inadequate.

A wick was stuffed into the long spout that led into the kerosene-filled well of the vessel. Hese tools were used in the inspection and repair of steam locomotives. Light repairs on steam locomotives were usually done in roundhouses at the many small locomotive terminals throughout a railroad's system; heavy repairs were done in a large, centralized repair shop serving the whole system (often referred to as the "Back Shop"). It may also have been used to melt snow and ice that would block switch points in the winter.

Would make a great display in a home, office or museum. Great item for railroad enthusiasts and collectors. Please let me know if you need any additional pictures.

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