Old hand lantern signed Leclanché, with a very characteristic design from the 1930s to 1950s. It is entirely made of brown bakelite, a material widely used at the time for its robustness, insulating power... and timeless elegance.
Discovered in 1909 by the Belgian Leo Baekeland, bakelite was the first plastic material to be industrially produced: it revolutionized our daily lives by ushering in the plastic era. Lightweight, resistant to heat and many chemicals, bakelite is an excellent electrical insulator, which was quickly adopted by the electrical construction industry. This new resin was also the first thermosetting plastic at the time, a property that was exploited for many industrial applications, notably for manufacturing radio and telephone casings, as well as jewelry and toys... Thanks to its glossy appearance, it also became the ideal material for designing household appliances (source: https://plastic-lemag.com).
The handle is made of aluminum. There is a switch on the front. This lantern worked with a battery, it is in good condition.
🔍 Details and identification:
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Brand: Leclanché (named after the famous inventor Georges Leclanché, pioneer of the electric battery).
It evokes the famous Leclanché batteries, widely used until the 1960s. Some lanterns like this one were either manufactured directly by the brand, or bore its name to indicate the type of battery used.
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Era: between the 30s and 50s, a period of strong development in portable lighting.
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Material: bakelite, with a curved glass lens and a folding metal aluminum handle.
- Dimensions: height 12.5 cm, 17 cm with handle, width 9 cm X 9.5 cm, weight 412 g.
- Operation: powered by one or more dry cell batteries, often 4.5V type. The rotary knob on top is used to switch it on and adjust the power or intensity (depending on the model).
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Original use: portable domestic, professional (workshop, factory), military or railway lighting.
This lantern will appeal to lovers of vintage industrial design, collectors of bakelite lamps and objects, enthusiasts of retro technology or the history of electricity, or those looking for a raw, steampunk or workshop decor.
Free delivery in Belgium, France, the Netherlands and Luxembourg.
Careful shipping.