Railroad Hand-Signal Lantern, 1989
date: label: date made
content: 1989-06-22
label: date made
content: ca. 1989
label: date made
content: ca. 1954 - 1989
label: date made
content: 1989
name: label: maker
content: Star Headlight & Lantern Company
notes: label: Description
content: This “Conger” model battery-powered signal lantern was manufactured by the Conger Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1989. The Conger Lantern Company originally operated in Portland, Oregon until it was purchased by the Star Headlight & Lantern Company of Honeoye Falls, New York in 1982. The lantern was incredibly popular due to its lightweight, rust-proof stainless steel body and rubber coated handle. The lantern has sockets for two bulbs; the bare bulb with reflector below the lantern body was used for signaling while the smaller adjacent bulb makes a focused beam that could be used as a flashlight. This particular lantern was witnessed to be the last Conger from the Star Company's assembly line, as the company changed to producing their line of plastic lanterns in 1989.
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. Hand lantern signals are still used in situations when radio intercommunication is impractical. 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: Gift of Star Headlight & Lantern Company, Inc. (through David W. Jacobs)
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: National Museum of American History
identifier: label: ID Number
content: 1989.0610.01
label: accession number
content: 1989.0610
label: catalog number
content: 1989.0610.01
objectType: label: Object Name
content: lantern, hand signal
physicalDescription: label: Physical Description
content: stainless steel (latern body material)
label: Physical Description
content: stainless steel (sliding electrical switch material)