Railway Carbide Lamp ÉTABLISSEMENTS ALBERT BUTIN PARIS

ID: s43377
Category: Lighting Fixtures
Subcategory: Industrial Lights
Location: New store

Country of origin: France
Condition: Used

Description: This brass railway carbide (acetylene) lamp comes from the French manufacturer Établissements Albert Butin in Paris. This historic hand lamp was used in the early 20th century for illumination and signaling on European railways before the introduction of electricity. The item showcases industrial engineering of its time. On the lamp's ventilation chimney, there is a legible, stamped brass manufacturer's identification plate with the text: ÉTABLISSEMENTS ALBERT BUTIN / 35, RUE DES MARTYRS / PARIS. The manufacturer is Albert Butin, an engineer and graduate of École Centrale Paris, whose company supplied lighting technology for French railway companies, such as Nord, Est, PLM, and SNCF. The item dates approximately between 1900 and 1930. The lamp's construction includes a brass body with copper rivets and an upper perforated ventilation dome for heat dissipation. A wooden handle with a brass grip allows for carrying. The lamp is fitted with three glass panes. The front side has side-hinged metal doors (shade/shutter) for directing light. Beneath the hinged lid, there is a brass two-chamber system: the lower for calcium carbide and the upper for water. Regulating valves with brass caps and taps are used for precise water dripping and flame intensity control. The back side is equipped with a fixed hook/clip for hanging on a wall, belt, or railway structure. This carbide lamp is a collector's item for those interested in railway history and technical equipment.

1 900 Kč / €79