Tallin Mfg. Co. No. 20 (Fake)
It took some research, but a few years ago I got the low down on the infamous, and
poorly made Tallin Mfg. Co. No. 20 Reflector Lantern. They are all reproductions,
made in India in the 1980's on new tooling that was backwards engineered from an
original C. T. Ham Mfg. Co. #20 Reflector Lantern. They were brought into the U.S. by
the AA Importing Company of St. Louis. (The owner's name is Richard Tallin.)
The "official" looking patent dates stamped into the vertical air tube are
completely bogus. All of the reflector lanterns they imported were made of either
brass or copper, and were sold with reproduction #0 Tubular Globes that are frosted white,
something that was never done 100 years ago. The tooling no longer exists for the
Tallin No. 20 Lanterns, and AA Importing no longer imports lanterns. Many collectors
have been fooled by this one over the years, paying hundreds over its original retail
price of $50. Don't let tarnished examples of this lamp fool you.
 
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"Railroad Dining Car" Lamp (Assorted Frauds)
More than fifteen years ago some enterprising chap found that if you take an old
lantern globe, some new lamp parts, some copper tubing, and an old lantern burner, put
them all together and add a tag with a railroad logo or the "PULLMAN" name, that
you could turn $20 worth of parts and a couple of hours of labor into a $1000 fake if you
added a good story about it being a rare "Dining" or "Pullman" Lamp.
In fact, these fantasy "Fakes" are not based on any original design, and
are not even operational in a practical sense. The perpetrator mixes original parts
with new parts to make the hoax convincing. Each one that has turned up has been
different from the others, but all seem to follow a common design.
"Electric" versions have also surfaced. Unfortunately several people have
been taken for $1000 or more for these worthless fakes. Don't let tarnished examples
fool you.
  
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Candle Lamps (Assorted Fakes)
Railway car candle lamps were originally produced well over 100 years ago, but
still turn up regularly for sale at swap meets, and online auctions. Their brass
construction, compactness, and original intended railway use makes for a nice
collectable item. This is something that has not gone unnoticed by foreign
manufacturers. While the original candle lamps will usually have either an
Adams & Westlake (Adlake) mark or occasionally a Dayton Mfg. Co. mark, the
imported "fake" versions are distinctly different, and can have any number of
markings, including: "Pullman" or "Pullman Silver Palace Car
Co.," "Wells Fargo Co.." "White Star," etc..
See the "tag" section below for samples. Don't let tarnished
examples fool you.
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Scott New Vigilant Railroad Lamp (Fake)
The John Scott Lamp Company was started in 1957 near San Jose, California, and is
still in business today. They produce both replica light fixtures as well as custom
architectural grade fixtures. In the 1970's they started to offer oil
burning versions of some of their electric replica fixtures using "Duplex" type brass
burners made in England and stamped with the "John Scott" name. The New
Vigilant Railroad Lamp is still made, and offered in both electric and oil
burning versions. It cannot be classified as a reproduction, as this lamp is not a copy of
an original pattern. The globe is common in size to the one used in the Dietz
Pioneer Street Lamp. Don't let tarnished examples fool you.
 
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Central Union & Pacific Tubular
Lantern (Fake)
| The first tip off
that this is a fake is the fact that there was never a Central Union & Pacific
Railroad. The lantern itself is either a Chinese or Indian made
copy of a European copy of the Dietz Junior, not a railroad lantern by any means.
(Note the European style bail "ears.") This lantern has also appeared with
other railroad names as well as "Wells Fargo Co." ownership tags.
Constructed of solid brass with a faked patina. |
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Pennsylvania Railroad Tubular Lantern (Fake)
These first appeared about 20 years ago, and are believed to have originated in
India. They are loosely patterned after the Dietz Little Wizard, and are poorly made
of thin brass that is susceptible to stress cracks. The original globes are thin
compared to originals, and are known to have been made in pale blue and pale green.
These lanterns were never used on the Pennsy, or any other railroad for the matter.
A curiousity and earmark are two holes in one air tube, (see pictures.) Don't let
tarnished examples fool you. Pure Junque! |
Santa
Fe and Union Pacific Oil Lamps (Fake)
The origin and age of these is unknown, but they appear to be from India from as
early as 1975. Known examples have appeared with either Santa Fe or Union Pacific
embossed in the side of the fount, but other railroad names may also exist.
Variations with both large and small or no reflectors have surfaced, but the poor
lettering is always a tip-off. Don't let tarnished examples fool you. |
Pullman
Silver Palace Car Co. Oil Lamp (Fake)
| Here is a fine example of a $5
lamp with a fake tag to boost the price as high as a naive buyer will pay.
In the first place, there was never a Pullman Silver Palace Car
Company. In the second place, this lamp is so poorly constructed, the
"Pullman Company" would have been ashamed to have their name affixed to it.
In the third place, this is not like any lamp or lantern ever used on any railroad.
Take special notice of the poorly aligned vent holes and the mis-matched oil pot.
Also note the unmarked adjustable burner that uses 1/4" round wick, (instead
of flat wick.) The use of patina is overdone to take your attention away from the
poor construction in this case. The country of origin is most likely India. |
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Assorted
Maker/Owner Tags (Fake)
The sole purpose of fake maker/owner tags is to increase the perceived value of the
item to which they are attached. With the abundance of fake tags on fake lamps and
lanterns, they have started showing up attached to real antiques. Other fakery
includes the tag for "Scott's Lamp Co." which is a take off of the "Scott
Lamp Company," a company that didn't exist until 1957.
"Wells-Fargo" tags are one of the most common fakes, and regularly used on goods
from China and India.
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