THE RAREST OF THE RARE! Harder to find than hens teeth, is what one expert told us! This is a Kansas City Belt Railway lantern, maufactured by the Defiance Lantern and Stamping Company in Rochester, NY. The highly desired twist wire model. This railroad was only in existence under this name from 1890-1897, and had a whopping 20 miles of track! Experts surveyed once this lantern arrived here stated that less than six of these are known, and that this is the only known version of this lantern, as no red or green globe versions have ever been seen. It has has a cast, clear, Corning CNX globe that is cast with K.C.B. Ry. on the front and the CNX logo cast on the back. Flea bites around the globe rims, but no cracks. Excellent metal on the lantern, with fine shiny metal remaining, and some very minor pitting on the rim, but what can you expect from a 134 year old lantern? Lantern rim clip has been resoldered, and the rivets have been replaced by two small screws. The fount has some pinholes in the top, but is original to the piece, and it has a brass Handlan burner, which may or may not be original to the piece, as lantern manufacturers sourced burners from many companies back in the 1800s. This piece was found in Missouri, about an hour south of Kansas City, and came as part of a recent truck load of estate and collection pick ups that we gathered on our return from a Western USA trip.

used

10 x 7 x 7 in