For your consideration is this beautiful, full brass car side lamp from 1908-1910. Kerosene side lamps were typically mounted on the sides of the car near the front doors or cowl, often in pairs. Their purpose was not to illuminate the road like modern headlights, but to make the vehicle visible to others at night, mark the width of the car and sometimes assist the driver with entry/exit lighting. This brass car side lamp is unmarked, showing that this was likely not used with a specific car brand, make or model. It is complete with the burner, a wick, two beveled glass lenses, a red jewel, a heat disperser and a dial to adjust the wick height. The red jewel functioned as rear-facing marker lights, allowing the flame inside the lamp to be seen from behind or the side of the vehicle. This added visibility was crucial in the early 1900s, when roads were poorly lit and collisions with other carriages or vehicles were a real concern. Much like modern red tail lights, the jewels helped signal the orientation of the vehicle at night, letting others know which direction the car was facing or moving. The car side lamp shows good condition overall with slight wear present from its age and use over the years, but no signs of major damage is noted. It measures 5 5/8" L x 5" W x 12" H and weighs 3 pounds and 2 ounces. Provenance: From the Tombstone Western Heritage Museum in Tombstone, Arizona. AUT32