Help identifying vintage paraffin lamp origin

[mp01]

Hello

I've just been given an old red paraffin lamp, which I assume would have been a tail lamp in years gone by. It has the letters "S Wa EB" embossed on the top in that configuration. I presume this would be the particular railway company's name, or the manufacturer's name. Anyone know what it means?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Foxcote]

Hi mp01. I cannot think of any railway company with such initials. My best guess is that it is a road works lamp from the South Wales Electricity Board. Does the cistern have any different markings?

 

[mp01]

Thanks foxcote - that would make sense; it was bought in south Wales. I'd assumed it was railwayana, but no reason for that other than I didn't have any other ideas. There are no other distinguishable markings on either the lamp casing or the burner itself. In case it helps, I've attached a photo to this post.

 

[table38]

I'd say it was an old "road works lamp". They used to leave them out at night to warn about road works.

These days they are yellow plastic and have a battery and bulb instead of paraffin.

IIRC an old workplace joke was to turn up the wick on the paraffin ones, so that the handle got hot and the workmen burned their hand when they picked them up.

 

[mp01]

Thanks for that info table38, and the link. Mystery solved...