Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, ca. 1950s
name: label: maker
content: Economy Lantern Company
notes: label: Description
content: This railroad hand-signal battery-powered lantern was manufactured by the Economy Electric Lantern Company during the middle of the 20th century. This lantern was used by an employee of the Chicago & Eastern Illinois Railroad. The lantern has a stainless steel body to avoid rust, and a rubber coated handle allowing for better grip during signaling.
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
topic: label: Subject
content: Railroads
label: Subject
content: electricity
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: Anna Spelbring
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: TR.335323
label: catalog number
content: 335323
label: accession number
content: 321812
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lantern, hand signal