Antique Victorian Police Dark Lantern or Bullseye Lantern.

This is an antique Victorian bullseye lantern. Otherwise known as a dark lantern. This design was created in the early/mid 1800s for police to be able to have a portable lightsource.
It was more convenient than carrying a giant lighted torch, in that the beam was focused and the lantern can be turned to "shut off" the light without actually having to extinguish the flame and later re-light it.
This is really cool. The oil burner is non-functional after all this time and is likely from a different dark lantern BUT at least it contains one which makes for easier explanations.
These were also used by the Railway and who knows who else. This design was used all over the world, not just Britain.
Enjoy!

[@janescarfield8104]

What an great little artefact!

[@techwg]

Thanks. It is very cool.

[@adeveth]

i love this design sm

[@techwg]

It is very nice. Shame the burner in mine appears to be the wrong one, from some other model.

[@firstnamelastname-yv5rp]

I have 2 with the whale oil burner. mine were made in the 1850s by dietz in new york city.

[@SilentButDescriptive]

Very cool.