Collections record Beta

Train Set - Railway Signal

2016-52-11

Early 20th-century tinplate railway signal, possibly made by Märklin. Tall, thin metal rod with various railway signals, attached to rectangular metal base. The rod is painted in an alternating red-white striped pattern and terminates in a small crown. Attached at the top are two metal arms. One holds two circular pieces of glass (red and green) in metal frames, as well as a horizontal red and white metal piece, narrow through the middle and ending in a circular shape. The second arm holds a circular piece of thick glass in a metal frame. Mid-way up the rod is another metal arm, holding a circular metal grate with a small inset piece of red glass. At the bottom of the rod is a weighted lever, which works the signal's mechanism. When the lever is raised, thin metal wires attached to the two arms move the various pieces. The base is painted brown.

Used and displayed in Sheldon Tavern. Donor believes they were played with in the attic, and belonged to Robert Lewis Fisher (1898-1977).

• Märklin

c.1915

Height 11.25", Width 4.5", Depth 2.5"

• paint
• metal
• tin