Antique 1870s Brass Skater’s Lantern – Clear Glass Globe & Original Burner

Details

Description

Up for consideration is a fine vintage early 20th-century Perkins Marine Lamp Corp. "Perko Wonder Junior" Skater's Lantern. Compact and … Read more Up for consideration is a fine vintage early 20th-century Perkins Marine Lamp Corp. "Perko Wonder Junior" Skater's Lantern. Compact and portable, skater's lanterns of this type were designed to be carried by hand or hung from a coat button for personal illumination on frozen lakes and nighttime ice skating outings.

Manufacturer: Perkins Marine Lamp Corp. ("PERKO") — Brooklyn, New York, USA.

Model: Wonder Junior Skater's Lantern.

Period: Circa 1910s – 1930s.

Materials: Sheet steel/tin burner frame & fount base; brass wick adjustment mechanism; glass globe; wire bail handle.

Dimensions:
Height (to top of cap/dome): 6.5 inches

Height (to top of raised handle): 10.5 inches

Base diameter: 3.25 inches

Glass Globe: Features its original, clear blown/molded glass globe with heavy vertical ribbing and distinct crisp embossing reading "PERKO WONDER JUNIOR" across the upper rim. Free of major structural cracks or deep chips.

Burner & Wick Mechanism: Fitted with the original brass thumb-wheel wick raiser marked "PERKINS MARINE LAMP CORP. N.Y." in crisp block lettering. The burner assembly detaches smoothly from the base via the original bayonet twist tabs. Includes a length of flat cotton wick.

Origin & Age
Origin: Brooklyn, New York, United States

Age: Early 20th Century (c. 1910–1935)

Authenticity Assessment This piece displays all major key authenticity markers required by serious kerosene lighting collectors:

Globe Embossing: Crisp, raised-relief mold lettering "PERKO WONDER JUNIOR" directly on the upper section of the glass body.

Burner Marking: The thumb wheel bears the distinct circular stamping reading "PERKINS MARINE LAMP CORP. N.Y." in clean, sans-serif lettering surrounding the center rivet.

Construction Techniques: Period-accurate crimped rolled edges, punched circular smoke vents on the upper chimney dome, and correct bayonet twist-lock fount tabs without modern solder repairs, synthetic coatings, or reproduction screws.

Reference
Book Title: Lanterns That Lit Our World: How to Identify, Date, and Restore Old Railroad, Marine, and Utility Lanterns
Author: Anthony Hobson
Reference Page / Note: See section covering American Marine & Miniature Utility Lighting (Perkins Marine Lamp & Hardware Corp. / PERKO catalog history, pp. 62–68).

Design Significance & Provenance: Originally designed during the early 20th Century by the Perkins Marine Lamp & Hardware Corporation of Brooklyn, NY, this "Wonder Junior" skater's lantern represents a classic piece of American industrial utility design. Featuring a distinct ribbed hour-glass silhouette, rich warm patina, and architectural perforations, it bridges utilitarian lighting history with classic Americana aesthetics.

Curator's Note: An exquisite antique accents piece with rich industrial heritage. Displayed on a library bookshelf, styled within a mantle vignette, or incorporated into a coastal-inspired tabletop display, this compact skater's lantern offers compelling texture, sculptural silhouette, and authentic historic character for curated residential interiors. See less