W Butcher & Sons ‘Primus’ Gas Lantern

A ‘Primus’ Gas Lantern as supplied by W Butcher and Sons of Blackheath, London in the 1920s. The company was established in 1866 and began selling under the ‘Primus’ trademark from around 1895 onwards. The company sold a vast range of magic lanterns, horizontal enlargers, cinematographs and the like, with much of its equipment sourced from Germany but sold under their own name. From around 1915 it also began selling its popular Junior Lecturers Series of magic lantern slides, which were also marketed under the ‘Primus’ name.

This particular lantern is of tinplate, mahogany and brass construction. With bellows extended it measures approximately 45cm long and stands 31cm high. Brass plaques to each side are embossed ‘Primus Gas Lantern Registered’, and the label to the front (partially obscured by the possibly later and oversized lens mount) reads ‘Primus Gas Lantern Regd No 262061’. It is believed to date to around 1920.