The "Yellow Dog" Derrick Lantern
Previous to providing the earliest light for night drilling on oil rigs, the double-wicked iron lamps were hung on the yardarms of whaling ships where, filled with whale oil and set afire, provided light for night hunting of the great sperm whale.
With the discovery of crude oil in the country, the lanterns were adapted to the early drilling rigs where they illuminated the first night drilling operations. Some have also been used as a ladle to melt and pour Babbitt used for bearings in oil well engines.
The term "Yellow Dog" may have come from the yellowish shadow resembling a dog's head cast by these lighted posts at night or, from the lighted flames resembling a dog's eyes in the distance. Some also say they were painted yellow and got their name from that. But, I have never seen these lanterns painted yellow.
Both the Oil Well Supply Co. and the Alamo Iron Works lanterns belong to, Bob Ardisson, a good friend.
Truck Flares Smudge Pots C.T.Ham Little Wizard
I have many sets of truck flares and many single flares. These were used around the late 40's and through the 50's as warning lights for disabled vehicles. I also have several of the "Toledo Torch", or "Smudge Pot" flares that were used in construction areas around the same era. These used a cotton wick and were filled with Kerosene each day during use. The average time these would burn is about 12 - 14 hours on a fill-up.
C.T.Ham Mfg. Co. (Charles Trafton Ham) Built tubular, street, square, headlights, railroad, commercial and vessel lamps and lanterns. The No."0" Clipper is shown above. The company closed in 1914 and was purchased by the R.E.Dietz Co. who made the "Little Wizard" lantern also shown.
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