Adlake Railroad Lamp

[Blueberryhill RR]

I have recently been given a black cast lamp that has stamped in the top plate...... The Adlake non- sweating Lamp... Chicago. It is totally complete with a heavy cast ring for mounting on a rail car. It has 3 blue lenses and 1 red one.
Does anyone have any idea what this is worth? It is in very good condition.
Chuck

[wrmcclellan]

Chuck,

I assume you are talking about a marker lamp (or is it a switch stand lantern?)?

You need to look and see if it also has a railroad abbreviation cast on it (i.e. NYC, B&O, etc.) The more common the RR, the lower the value. The rarer (smaller) the RR, the greater the value.

Lenses may or may not count for much as there are bunches of reproductions out there. Any provenance that you can obtain on it's originality is useful (i.e. was the person who passed it to you a RR employee?). Blue lenses usually denote that car workers are present and the train/car(s) cannot be moved until the worker that put it there has removed it.

Here is an interestng link:

http://www.adlake.com/products_collectibles.php

So depending on what you have, the value will run from around $75 to $750.

Find an expert to help you. You could check on the Classic Trains forum for better assistance. Good luck!

Regards,
Roy

[bogaziddy]

A quick glance through a Schrader Railroad Catalog showing desk and tabletop lamps with new ( 'antique-styled' ) brakemens' lamps as bases and priced from $154.95 to $165.95 would lead me to believe your caboose lamp to be worth in the vicinity of $400 dollars or so.

If you decide to mount it on your porch as a porch light, make sure to secure it in such a way that it can't be stolen. I've heard many stories of thefts of railroad memorabilia displayed outdoors as home decorations. Enjoy and treasure your recently acquired gift. I've got an Adlake swith stand lamp with two red and two green aspects that my railroad friends drool over and can't stop talking about. I only mount it outside on the porch for parties, get-togethers etc.

The Zid

[Blueberryhill RR]

Thanks for the information, guys. It is exactly like the # 270 Adlake Marker Lamp. Except it has a square pocket on the mounting ring. To go on a peg, or something. I can not find any RR markings on it. I got it from a railroad man who worked the coal trains in Southeastern Ohio. I plan on hanging it up in my train room. Thanks again.
Chuck

[Anonymous]

It's a marker lamp. About $125-250

[Anonymous]

Chuck,

I agree with JOHNBLAIR.

Schrader's Railroad Catalog has nice pictures but should NEVER be used for a price reference. They have no clue about reality. Do some searching around on ebay in the railroadiana section to find more realistic prices for used stuff.

Regards,

Rich