Lamp; Flare lamp as used on railway, 1900-1950

This flare lamp was standard issue on the railways until the mid-20th century.The metal can with a screw lid held paraffin. The cloth wick inside the funnel was soaked in the paraffin so that when lit, it burned to provide a continuous flame.
Lamps with naked flames were commonly used when light was needed during routine maintenance on surface and underground railways. Improved safety regulations gradually required them to be replaced by battery torches.