Lanterns and Gas Ligts

[Algernon Swinburne]

Hey guys,

I don't know if it's just me or if I never noticed them before, but it seems just about every decor store sells lanterns that look old and worn.  I personally think they look really cool and I have found a lot of them that are priced to sell.  right now I own about 6 or 7 or them around the house. 

They look kind of like these:









(You can find these online at amazon.com or at Hobby Lobby, Home Goods, or Rod Works.  Pretty much everywhere.)

I'll see if I can take some pictures of the actual ones I own and put them on photobucket so I can insert the image url here. 

I also bought a few gas lights at a garage sell a few weeks back that look incredibly old and cool.  I bought one that looks kind of like this.



I make this thread in hope that some of you have some cool ideas of what I can do to sup these up and make them look more steampunkish.  I want to put some gadgets or lights in them or something and make them display pieces or center pieces in my apartment.  I know a lot of you are incredibly talented and creative, so please, do share your thoughts and ideas. 

I'll post pictures for sure of what I end up doing with them.

Thanks!

[Crescat Scientia]

They rather cry out for rivets, if you can manage the effect on the metal of the lanterns.  Just a row of silver studs and they start to get that steampunk ethos.

Of course they are gorgeous as they are as well.  But I can understand the urge to improve them.

[Uncle Arthur]

Lately I have been seeking out old bridge lamps to repair and rewire. Here they are relatively cheap (32 dollars for my most expensive one to date) and are period early electric lighting.

[von Corax]

Not familiar with the term "bridge lamp." What do they look like?

[Uncle Arthur]

Here is a random example I grabbed online.

http://www.myrlg.com/product_images/a/457/RLG7200__97143_zoom.jpg

[von Corax]

Oh those things! I don't think I ever knew what they were called.

[Uncle Arthur]

Yep. Now they are again on an upswing in popularity. I am grabbing and refurbishing them  as quickly as I locate them cheaply.

[Arvis]

 This one is fantastic and needs not be touched! Placed appropriately but not fiddled with mechanically. As for the others I would not mess with their exteriors but would go with some fanciful lighting mechanism on the inside. I can't exactly say what because I would have to study them in person before I could decide what would go best. I think it would depend on whether you intend to use it as an actual light source or simply as a decoration on which you don't really plan on depending on it's ability to light up the area. If this is the case I would go with LED or perhaps those fake candle flicker flamey doomiflatchies.

 Arvis

[SPBrewer]

I really don't think any of them need to be touched.  I especially like the last one.  Did you find it that way, or build it?

[perkunasnz]

The second hand store down the road from us is selling a couple of old railway lanterns. These are the ones that have a red glass lens on them. Once I get the money would love to buy them and do some gadget work on them.