I have always had a strong interest in “old things”, even as a child. When I discovered that we actually had a real attic FULL of old things, just like in the mysteries I loved to read, it was one of the most memorable events of my childhood! That fascination continues to this day and is very strongly tied to my obsession with family history.
A few years ago, I discovered that my grandmother’s second cousin, William Chamberlain Embury, designed and manufactured railroad lanterns. Born in Canada in 1873, he moved to New York, and began the Embury Lantern Company. The Embury Lantern Company became one of the most successful lantern manufacturers, second only to Dietz. William turned the company over to his sons in 1936, and Dietz ended up buying the company in the 1950’s.
The photo above was taken in Bodie- I could not resist taking a photo of railroad lanterns! No, they are not Embury lanterns. The ones on the left may be a Dietz- not sure about the one on the right. I own a lantern like the ones he manufactured, but it is a Dietz, not an Embury. When I visit an antique store, I look for Embury lanterns, but I haven’t seen one yet.
melinda anderson photography 