Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, 1830s-1840
date: label: date made
content: 1831-1840
label: date made
content: ca. 1831-1840
name: label: maker
content: unknown
notes: label: Description
content: This signal lantern was used on the Camden & Amboy Railroad in New Jersey from around 1833 until 1840. The top of the lantern bears the inscription “Edward Muschamp,” the conductor who used the lamp, as well as the inscription “Phile & NEW YORK RAILROAD” two cities connected on the Camden & Amboy route.
label: Description
content: Before the advent of portable two way radios, train crews communicated via hand signals during the day, and lantern signals during periods of low visibility or at night. Specific motions of the lantern convey precise instructions such as “Clear to Depart;" "Move the train Forward;" "Move the train Backward;" "Slow Down;" "Slow Down Further;" or "Stop and Remain Stopped."
label: Location
content: Currently not on view
place: label: place made
content: United States: New Jersey
topic: label: Subject
content: Railroads
setName: label: See more items in
content: Work and Industry: Transportation, Railroad
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content: Work
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content: Communications
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content: Transportation
creditLine: label: Credit Line
content: Gift of J.H. McCreery, thru F.W. Wolcott Jackson
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TR.181048
label: catalog number
content: 181048
label: accession number
content: 25376
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lantern, hand signal
label: Other Terms
content: lantern, hand signal; Rail
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: copper (overall material)
label: Physical Description
content: glass (overall material)
label: Measurements
content: overall: 14 1/4 in x 4 3/4 in; 36.195 cm x 12.065 cm