Shows: Timonium '06

Above left to right. Poors Manuals from various years; finally, a rare and unusual piece -- a wax melter lantern, with "Merribrooke Melter" embossed on the rim, a patent date of "May 24-21", and a copper tube that inserts into the smoke dome. This appears to be a modified Armspear model, since the drop-fount is identical to those of other Armspear lanterns. Speculation is that this lantern was used to melt wax for sealing correspondence. Update: Tom Stranko sent in the following: "Way, way back when, I recall someone writing in about pictures I put in [a collectors magazine] of one of these lanterns. Seems they were used by tree surgeons (don't know their exact title) to melt the grafting wax used to seal up around a "sprout" or sapling when attaching it to the rest of the tree or bush -- to seal out the bacteria and insects." So possibly this lantern was not used on the railroad after all. The original Armspear model is definitely "railroad style" though. Another comment: "The Merribrook Melter lantern was indeed used for melting wax. The brass tube is an incorrect addition to the lamp. I have 2 of those mothers, had them for 30 or more years, and won't clean them because they are so dirty. There is a metal cup that drops into the top and is where the wax was melted. As I understand it, these lanterns were used for melting wax for candling eggs. Supposedly, that's an ancient way of preserving them before refrigeration. That's what an old timer told me, anyway. So, its possible that Merribrooke Melters had little or nothing to do with railroading."

Thanks to those who sent in comments.