F. M. & CIE * FRITZ MERKER* PREDECESSOR TO W. EGLOFF MODEL*IN THE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF TOM SALKELD

F. M. & CIE KEROSENE LANTERN

Firmenschild Fritz Merker & Cie Petroleumlampe

 

Registration country: CH
Registration date: 11/26/1891
Date of publication: 03/31/1892
Priority: CH - 11/26/1891
Inventor: MERKER CIE F, CH
Applicant: MERKER & CIE F, CH

[DE] Innovation in hurricane lanterns

 

CIRCA: 1891 - 1892

 

This stunning kerosene lantern is currently in the private collection of T. Salkeld. With his gracious permission, I was allowed to showcase this model on my website. After researching this lantern, which at first was unknown as to who made it, the research led to the strong possibility that it is the predecessor to one of Wilhelm Egloff's models which can be seen here: Egloff Early Model

 

On the brass thumb wheel (wick driver) are the initials 'F.M. & Cie' and then the capital letter 'B'.  These initials stand for 'Fritz Merker & Cie' and the letter stands for 'BADEN'.  It is notable that that Tom's lantern still has the original burner made by Fritz Merker.

 

The Patent number is embossed on the upper chimney tube with also a large Swiss Cross. Above in the gallery is the Patent registration (Nr. 4281) dated November 26th, 1891.

 

It appears (a strong possibility) that W. Egloff  purchased the Patent/design from Fritz Merker approximately one year later. Egloff's  Patent Nr. 4311 is dated January 16th, 1892. Egloff made and patented certain design changes to the globe lift mechanism and other characteristics to the lantern.

 

One could assume that F. Merker decided not to go forward with any further Kerosene lantern mfg. and put the companies efforts into enameling and other household items. From 1896, F. Merker & Cie, operated the first enamelling factory in Switzerland.

 

The similarities in build to F. Merker's lantern and W. Egloff's model was striking, yet when the two models are compared side by side, there are distinct differences in the the attachment of the globe lift mechanism, the shape of the fuel tank and the windscreen which goes around the burner. Both Patent registrations refer to the lifting mechanism.

 

T. Salkeld's restoration on this lantern has brought it back to as close to its original condition as possible and it is a wonderful historical treasure.

RESEARCH, COMPARISON'S AND RELATIONSHIP TO W. EGLOFF'S MODEL

 

*The Patent registration was  poorly translated to English via Google Translate, but one can get a good idea as to what the content is.

F.M. & CIE * FRITZ MERKER KEROSENE LANTERN * SWITZERLAND

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Berlin- born plumber Johann Friedrich Merker settled in Baden in 1839 and opened a workshop there. Son Fritz Merker and his brother-in-law Eduard Meining from Chemnitz took over the father's business in 1873 and expanded it into the Merker & Meining metal goods factory . Initially, the company mainly manufactured kerosene stoves, later adding sheet metal and items for the kitchen and household.

After Meining's death in 1878, Albert Sartory from Basel joined the company, which was renamed Merker & Sartory . In the same year it set up the first telephone line in the canton of Aargau between the factory hall and the management . The contractual relationship with Sartory was terminated in 1889, the company took on the legal form of a sole proprietorship and was now called F. Merker & Cie. From 1896 she operated the first enameling factory in Switzerland. The range expanded to include bathtubs , bath stoves , boilers and instantaneous water heaters.

 

 

*SOURCE OF PHOTOS BELOW: WIKIMEDIA FOUNDATION, INC.

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