Folding trench lantern

World War 1 folding trench lamp, used for hanging in a tent behind the lines, it also has significance as a product that was designed to improve the daily life of soldiers taking part in that conflict. Made by J Hinks of Birmingham, (and also many other manufacturers in the Empire) it would have been assembled by hand from parts that were made by machine and hand. The sliding hinges are formed from wire and hold the panels together to form a sturdy structure that can be folded and unfolded quickly and easily. The lamp fulfilled an everyday need by combining this novel technology with an ancient light source, the candle. The lamp was intended to provide light for recreation, preparation, and response to night-time emergencies. While some generators were used to provide electric power to forces during World War I, their use was limited by cost, weight and the problem of resupplying liquid fuel; electric light was probably reserved for medical and operational planning purposes. Solid fuel in the form of candles was safer to transport and store than liquid fuels, so lamps like this would have been used for lighting most tents. This image shows the lamp once folded for transportation

Antiquarian Collectable Contraption Ephemera Gadget Gimmick Gizmo Hinks Illuminate Illumination Illuminations Lamps Lanterns Portable Quirky Tents Unfold Unfolded Unfolding Unfolds Widget

Features In These Collections

> Contributors > MAU