RR lantern expert needed to ID a lantern...

That is an Adlake Reliable lantern with a 5-3/8" tall globe. I believe the lantern is embossed PRR. Here are a couple pictures of some Adlake Reliables.

Thanks, Joe!

I kept looking at so many different lanterns to compare it got to the point they were all starting to look alike.

As for the RR name, I'm inclined to agree with PRR marking, but looking at the screen shot it almost looks like "PL RR" after a while of looking at it.

I'm gonna have to break out the DVD anbd watch it again to see if I can figure out the RR marking on the lid.

But do you agree it looks painted black? I've never seen any lantern at a RR collectible show that had any patina that dark...

I do agree that the lantern looks like it was painted black. 

There were a few railroads with the initials P.C Ry. There was also one with P.E. Ry. initials.

I'm not familiar with PC other than Penn Central but they usually marked theirs with the logo and they wouldn't have used that pattern so late, but PE would be Pacific Electric. No way would I find a latern marked with that easily.

There is currently a Pacific Electric Ry lantern on eBay you might want to look at...

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?na...69456204&alt=web

Tom

Some P.C. Railways:

Pacific Coast Ry.

Pecksport Connecting Ry.

Pennsylvania Central Ry.

Penobscot Central Ry.

Pine Creek Ry.

Yeah, but at $400 when you can easily find a decent lantern with other RR markings for well under $100. That was my point.

 it almost looks like "PL RR" 

I enlarged the pic, and it sure looks like PL R to me.

The movie was filmed on the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway(OPE) that was formerly the Oregon Southeastern Railway (O&SE). It's not one of theirs.

Even zooming it's hard to tell the reporting mark or initials. It's a decent resolution photo too.

The first letter looks like a Y to me. Crud in the 2nd letter, maybe E. or the ampersand &

Fun, interesting post.

The film was shot in and around the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon along the right-of-way of the Oregon, Pacific and Eastern Railway (OP&E). Willis Kyle, President of the OP&E in 1972, allowed the film company unlimited access to make the film. Oregon, Pacific and Eastern's rolling stock, including two steam locomotives (one being #19, a type 2-8-2 Mikado), appear in the film. This was the location used by Buster Keaton for his 1927 railroad feature The General. Also featured in the film is the Dorena Reservoir, located about 10 miles east of Cottage Grove, and OP&E's railyard in downtown Cottage Grove.

Filming finished on 5 October 1972.

I know the guy who owns it. I've seen it a few times, but years ago. As I recall, it's painted a dark green. I can call him and see if he still has it. If so, he can send me photos.

How cow, you know the person who owns that lantern? Please, keep us all posted! I'd love to know more. How'd he wind up with it?

I generally see them around here at swap shows for $30-$80, maybe not specifically a Reliable, but lanterns in general.

Thanks,

Mario

Yep--I've held that lantern. It originally belonged to another friend--a Southern California collector. He gave it to my other friend for helping him move. Not sure how the first friend got it, but he's a railroadiana collector, and what with it being Southern California and Hollywood and all...

Wonder if it's black paint or black stove polish? The original's owner would be able to tell. I've used a lot of Black Cat Strove Polish in my misspent youth and it does look a good bit like that.

As I recall, it's a very dark green--not black.

I have a message into my friend--who's away on business in a pretty remote part of California--so we may have to wait a bit.

Can't wait to hear more about this.

Most black inks and a lot of black paints actually have a base of a totally different color, just highly concentrated. Maybe this was black at one point but the paint has faded to its base after more than at least 40 years...

Black *would* be the appropriate color for Shack, though...

I'll let you know as soon as I hear something. I'd love to see pictures too!

Steve,

Please give this collector my contact info, I'd love to ask them some specific questions and post the info on my website if he'll allow it.

Will do. I'll have more time to try and track him down this weekend.

Can't be many of those left around. That RR has a small but rabid fan base, I bet it'd go for a small fortune if it ever went on ePay...

I agree--it is pretty random. I hope he still has it. I suspect the does. He's one of those collectors who doesn't ever let anything go. I've thought about making a replica of it as well!

Enjoying this thread.

Time to watch the flick again?

"Most black inks and a lot of black paints actually have a base of a totally different color..."  And from a pure color theory viewpoint there is no such thing as a "black" pigment. The color "black" does not exist since it represents the lack of color/light. Most black pigments are iron oxide or some form of burnt wood and break down to brown or green when faded or thinned with white.

That said, the lamp could have been painted black and bleached to a greenish hue overtime.

I wonder what happened to Shacks' hat...

Or his pocket watch chain...

-Or one of the hammers be offed 'bos with.

One of these days, I badly need to at least see "the 19":

In additive color, such as paint, black is the presence of all color. In subtractive color, such as light, white is the presence of all color.

I have an Adlake Reliable on my desk, clear glass with raised letters "SP Co" on the glass.

No, it doesn't belong to the Shack.

Yes, better quality lanterns can be had, but, this holds a special place because it was earned. I think only two districts here in Roanoke earned this lantern and ours was one of them.

Lee--my friend got back with me and left a message--he still has the lantern and can tell us anything you want to know. He can take pictures too. I'll get back with him and give him your info. He's off today and tomorrow, so we should have something by this weekend.

Isn't this an amazing forum  !!!

Clem k

I more excited about seeing what the color is. I swear it was like a forest green. It didn't look like it had faded. My buddy can probably take pictures of some of the hidden areas of the lantern that probably weren't exposed to light.

If it really is black, than I will have to be embarrassed about my memory loss.

This has been a fun thread.

between Emperor, and From Here to Eternity, Ernie Borgnine sure could play a sadistic SOB.

If it isn't the color you recall, don't let that get to you. I have been back to places I haven't been to since I was a kid or a young man and found entire towns laid out totally different than I'd recalled. Remembering a color incorrectly is really no big deal, if indeed that turns out to be the case.

Like I and others have suggested, the lantern could have changed color since the movie was made!

Joe--a general lantern question: Why are the bails of some lanterns (Dietz only?) "bent in" like this one at the eleven o'clock position:

Probably crushed in a landfill under dozens of feet of garbage by now, I'd expect.

Most costumes were rented out by movies back then, costume houses had giant hangar-sized facilities with one of darned near anything. Only costumes that were custom made or duplicates needed (or had to be partially or fully destroyed in the filming) were not rented for the most part.

Even the original "Star Wars" movies used lots of rented costumes. They went through Berman's, even for many of the sci-fi uniforms (for example, the TIE fighter pilots were actually wearing 1950s NYC police uniforms under the custom-made armor and most of the rebel officers in the award ceremony at the end are wearing rented British WW1 and WW2 uniforms).

While there are costume houses still in operation, most are shells of their former glory. For the most past, the costume and prop house system collapsed by the early 90s when movie companies decided it was better to just buy everything, then sell it off. Then, internet sales of such props and costumes became a huge revenue stream after the sale of stuff from "Titanic" brought massive amounts of cash, something most people into that didn't expect. "Saving Private Ryan" was probably the last movie where props and costumes were sold off by weight, in bulk to dealers. All that stuff sold to the public for huge amounts by people who'd paid pennies on the dollar, much to the shock of the production company. No movie has done that since and likely never will again.

I'd bet that all the costumes from "Emperor of the North" were rented and returned to the prop house after they were done.