✅ SOLVED old wick holder

[WHADIFIND]

This came from about 14 inches down in an old mansion's front lawn. I'm trying to figure the age frame. All I've done is rinse off the dirt thus far. Appears to be brass. The control knob has some markings but my eyes just can't make out what they might mean.

If anyone can help it would be greatly appreciated. I've tried to make some pics through my eye loupe. If another view would help, just say so. If anyone has an idea on how I could clean this to maybe see more detail, it would also be helpful.

Thanks!

 

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[duggap]

Yep, top off an old lantern.

 

[TomPA]

There are often patent dates on the control knob. I can't make it out from the picture, but look closely and you may see it.

 

[TheCannonballGuy]

Whadifind, you are correct, it is the wick-holder (with wick height-adjustment knob) from an oil-burning lamp or lantern. I've seen that type with the adjuster's disc marked with Patent-dates from the 1850s through the 1890s. Of course, they continued to be manufactured for decades after the Patent-date. As you know, in the early-1900s they fell out of widespead use due to the advent of in-home electrical lighting.

Unfortunately, I can't narrow down the 1850s-to-early-1900s timerange for the specific version you found, because the adjuster's disc markings are too corroded-away to read.

 

[artifact98]

Found the exact same one 3 days ago at this homesite and another one exactly the same in a bottle dump. Yours specifically is from the 1880's to the 1890's.

 

[WHADIFIND]

Whadifind, you are correct, it is the wick-holder (with wick height-adjustment knob) from an oil-burning lamp or lantern. I've seen that type with the adjuster's disc marked with Patent-dates from the 1850s through the 1890s. Of course, they continued to be manufactured for decades after the Patent-date. As you know, in the early-1900s they fell out of widespead use due to the advent of in-home electrical lighting.

Unfortunately, I can't narrow down the 1850s-to-early-1900s timerange for the specific version you found, because the adjuster's disc are too corroded-away to read.

Thanks again for your help CBG. I knew it was a long shot. Just thought I'd try. 1850-1890 works for this place. I wonder how something like this gets that deep in the ground. Guess there must've been some digging along the way.

HH!

 

[nhbenz]

Why can't I find a site like the one here for US made lamps!!! Oil Lamp Wick Knobs European w810 - a set on Flickr