Hello. I was wondering if you if you folks might be able to help me out with a recent discovery I found. The person that I got it from said that he had a friend come by who knew a great deal about old cars and said that this item I have sent you images of is supposed to have been a rare accessory that you could have gotten when you purchased a Model T. It was supposed to be a lantern that you could keep in your car and take out to use in case you needed to do a repair or some other task at night. It's missing the actual inner lighting part but the outer cast iron cage is still very neat. It's just over 11" wide and just over 7" tall. Just wanted to know if you have ever seen anything like this related to a Model T. Thank you very much in advance for any help. Enclosed are 3 images.
Looks like a decorative Japanese garden lantern. Definitely not connected with a Model T.
I agree, its is a simple Japanese entry lantern/candle holder, hung over or on both sides of a doorway or entranceway. The symbol on the front center would be painted or highlighted, telling whether its a name or place.
So obviously the story got scrambled in translation, and this lantern was given to you when you bought a Honda or a Toyota.
Steve J. more likely a Datsun......
Things oriental were very popular for a short time in the early '20s. I have never seen anything like that connected to a model T, but it would be possible for a local dealer to offer something like that. Whatever its story, it looks like an interesting piece.
Drive carefully, and enjoy, W2
Not all the cast iron stuff is old, I remember in the late 60s, my grandmother was buying stuff like this and burying it in the corral and then digging them up a few years later and selling them as antiques, she reminded me of Mr. Haney, I think she even drilled holes in furniture to make it look old too.
One of the most important rules of collecting, it to buy the item, not the story.
Best
Gus