The donor recovered this navigation lamp before the 1980s from an old storage area in a South Melbourne factory where he worked. He asked about the lamp, but nobody there knew anything about its origin, and he was told that he could have it. This is a complete ship navigation lamp with its original oil burner. The internal red colour and shape indicate that the lamp was used for the port side of a vessel. The burner assembly is fixed to a removable tray, and the burner disconnects from the tank to allow fuel to be added. Light showing from the lamp is magnified by the polished brass reflector behind it, and the painted internal surfaces give the light its red colour. The lid on the chimney unclips for inspection purposes. The wedge shape of the lamp is intentional. It allows the light to be visible horizontally from up to a 112.5-degree angle, and to be invisible past that angle. The light's colour and position are part of the code of signals that inform viewers of the vessel’s position, direction of travel and status. The red lights indicate the port side of a vessel, green lights indicate the starboard side, and white lights are used on the masthead. From 1972, lights and signals on marine vessels are required to be fitted according to the International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea. SEAHORSE lamp, made in Britain: The firm Bocock & Wilkinson was established in Birmingham in 1890 as an electroplate manufacturer. In 1900, Kelly’s Directory lists the firm as a ship lamp manufacturer. In 1910, the firm was listed Trading As “Seahorse” at 17 & 18 Mott Street, Birmingham. The firm later became Bocock & Son, and in 1932 was listed as George Bocock & Co. Ltd, and in 1973, it was still at that address. Ship’s navigation lamp: an original, galvanised metal, Port bow-side lamp. The wedge-shaped case has an arc front and two flat side panels that meet at the back, with a metal chimney and a swinging ‘C’ shaped handle on top. The curved, clear glass Fresnel has moulded ribs, top and bottom. The chimney has a hinged cap with a clip closure. One flat panel has a firmly attached, hollow rectangular channel for mounting onto a post or bracket. The other flat panel has a ‘D’ shaped, swinging handle, and slides upwards to access the burner assembly with its original brass burner. Concentric rings of ventilation holes are in the base. A removable tray, with ventilation holes on two edges, holds the round fuel tank and burner and the short post with the curved brass reflector. All internal metal surfaces, apart from the brass burner and reflector, were painted red sometime after the lamp’s manufacture. Inscriptions are embossed on the three brass plaques on the front; one has a rope design border and a seahorse emblem. Branded Seahorse, made in Great Britain, Ca. 1930s. Plaque on top, crescent shape: “PORT” Plaque in centre, square logo: “[rope design border] [Seahorse logo] “SEAHORSE / G B / TRADE / MARK / P55933” Plaque on base, rectangular: “PATENT NO. 546575 / AND OTHERS PENDING” flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, ship lamp, navigation lamp, masthead light, masthead lamp, port lamp, port light, bow side lamp, lighting device, navigation, marine light, marine lamp, marine equipment, marine technology, marine safety, running light, position light, code of lights, international regulations for preventing collisions at sea, antique, galvanised, seahorse, great britain, gb, patent 546575, seahorse logo, trade mark p55933, oil burner, bocock & wilkinson, bocock & sons, george bocock & co. ltd

WT George & Co of Sherlock Street Birmingham were makers of ships lanterns under the trade name “Meteorite”. In 1941 Thomas George writer assumes a relative of WT George was granted a patent number GB546575 relating to improvements to his lamps. After this date a plate was affixed with this number. What's confusing with the companies records is that they show that in Birmingham three companies are listed making lamps together and the writer is assuming under a partnership agreement. First in 1983 W T George & Co with William Harvie & Co went into liquidation with G Bocock & Co, together, then in 1992 George Bocock and Harvie Ltd were in liquidation. Although these companies seem to have different addresses in Birmingham they were linked together given they were all liquidated at the same time for two of them. They all appear to have been partners in some way making marine lamps under the William Harvie banner. William Harvie & Co. Ltd advertised as being electric light and power engineers, and patent ship lamp manufacturers, as early as 1901-1902, as listed in the Post Office annual Glasgow Directory 1901-1902.An item made by a company that was an innovator of significant improvements in the manufacture of marine signal and navigation lamps during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Lamps made by this manufacturer are now sought after collector's items that are of significant value. Lamp, round ship's copper lamp with clear glass, handle at top, fitted with hinged and catch section at top to service lamp. Bracket at back for hanging lamp. Stamped "Meteorite 110560" Bottom stamped "Patent no GB546575 and others pending".warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lamp, round ship's lamp, kerosene marine lamp, w t george & co, william harvie & co, george bocock & co

William Harvie was granted a patent in 1868 for improvements in the manufacture of lamps, lanterns and lenses for ships navigation and signal lamps 1868. Production began at 222 Broomielaw street Glasgow Scotland. Another patent was issued in 1873 for additional improvements to the companies lamps. Records show that in1873 William Harvie was in partnership with Malcolm Graham & Co, grease manufacturers and rosin distillers at 50 Anderson Street Gallowgate Glasgow. It appears around this time the business was transferred to George Moffat of 128 Garthland Drive Dennistoun Glasgow to continue under the same name (William Harvie & Co at premises situated at 100 East John St Gallowgate Glasgow. It is unclear but at some point W T George & Co were one in the same with William Harvie & Co. W T George made lamps with the trade name “Meteorite” and after gaining a patent for improvements to his lamps in 1941 the patent numbers were affixed to his lamps. In the Scottish Post Office annual Glasgow Directory 1900-1902 William Haveie & Co. Ltd is listed with two addresses; 222 Broomielaw and 24 McAlpine Streets, Glasgow. In the early 20th century the business moved to Birmingham until 1983 when the company went into voluntary liquidation after a meeting was held at Newhall Street Birmingham on the 10th January 1983 for WT George and William Harvie. This meeting was for the purposes regarding the insolvency of a company as set out in Sec 294 & 295 of the companies Act 1948 as a result Harvie & Co cease production of their products.An item made by a company that was an innovator of significant improvements in the manufacture of marine signal and navigation lamps during the late 19th and 20th centuries. Lamps made by this manufacturer are now sought after collector's items that are of significant value. Navigation lamp, round ship's lamp with clear glass and a red filter, handle at top, fitted with hinged and catch section at top to service lamp. Bracket at back for hanging lamp item painted red with black handles.Black nameplate is unreadable. Front reference plate reads " Meteorite" then "Meteorite No. 92276" warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lamp, meteorite, william harvie, navigation lamp, kerosene lamp, signal lamp, marine equipment, marine navigation, w t george & co, george bocock & co, william harvie & co. ltd.