An earlier Boston & Albany Railroad cast fixed globe lantern made by the New England Glass Company. It's interesting that the earlier New England fixed globe lanterns have block cast lettering rather than fancier lettering with serifs. This lantern has a few interesting features: (1) the vent area is atypical for NEG. The wire bail "through" the vent rather than through the lid is a mid-range date for NEG. That corresponds nicely with the Boston & Albany name which did not exist until 1867. (2) The intake holes in the base are round rather than rounded 5 point stars. (3) It is an "Engine" base which is a term from the 1850's catalogs referring to the small diameter base. The intent was to save space in a box under the locomotive employee seats. (3) the fount/base is from the 1868 patent. Note that the fount collar comes up the side of the glass fount. (4) A brass rather than pewter count collar and burner make this a post Civil War era lantern. The B&ARR casting is great. There are signs of original finish which to some looks like plated rust patterns. This lantern is much more rare than a C. T. Ham or even a Steam Gauge which both look similar at first glace.

Very Good