Uranium glass (Vaseline glass) for Trains and Cars



1) Golden Glow Light (Uranium glass headlight) on Japanese steam locomotives In March 2003, Japanese Magazine "Railway Fans," issued a very interesting article as "80 yeas ago, the steam locomotives and some trains used the so called "Golden Glow Light ", and it used a uranium glass (vaseline glass) headlight ", written by Jun-nosuke Oomori, who is a member of JUGCC).



In January 2006, JUGCC ( Japan Uranium Glass Collectors Club) visited the Transport Museum in Tokyo, because they have the above headlight ( Golden Glow Light ). This Museum closed in 2006, and now they re-opened in Saitama Prefecture in 2007.



The museum's chief picked up the locomotive headlight of the two Golden Glow Light s from the warehouse.

( photos by Mr Takashima of JUGCC)

Following two vaseline glass headlights are the Transport Museum's collection, and the copyright belongs to them. So, please do not copy the following photos of Golden Glow Lights.

This is the steam locomotive headlight as " Golden Glow Light" , yellow reflector(mirrors) part is made of vaseline glass.

The front cages are to protect against snow and/or tree branches.

The front cover is opened.

The vaseline glass is used as the yellow surface of the reflecting mirror.

Photo under Ultra-Violet light.

Reflector (vaseline glass) shows green fluorescence.

= Diameter is about 30 cm.

At the top of golden glow headlight, there is a "Koito Manufacturing Co"and GOLDEN GLOW FLOODLIGHT on the nameplate, but age is unreadable.





This is the second one, which is a little small, and was used as the electric-train's headlight.

Diameter is about 20 cm.

Under Ultra-Violet light with green fluorescence.

Right photo:

At the top of this headlight, Koito Manufacturing Co., Showa 9 May" (year-1934) and Golden Glow Floodlight are shown in the nameplate.





Right photo:

JUGCC members, who visited the Transport Museum.

The back is the steam locomotive.(The lamp is NOT a vaseline glass.)

We walked down to the station underground as a tour.

(This is a last chance to see here, because this museum was closed soon after)

This is top of the museum, Mansei-bashi station platform, which was closed longtime ago. The Central Line train will take you to this old station between Kanda and Ochanomizu, but not used anymore.





The Odor's article on "Golden Glow Light" says that it was attached to the Emperor's train, and that steam locomotive is still exhibited at the Kyoto Umekouzi Train Museum.

I have visited there in November 2004.

Almost 10 steam locomotives are shown, and I tested ultraviolet light irradiation to all of them.

After all, only one locomotive "C58"'s rear light was Uranium Glass..

The above article said that "C51 front headlight is vaseline glass". Its color is pale yellow but not a vaseline glass.

The steam locomotive is the Emperor's train "C58"

Chrysanthemum flower means that this train belonged to the Emperor.







"C58"'s rear lamp is "Golden Glow Light" (uranium glass)

The lamp maker Koito Manufacturing Co. (still operating) used vaseline glass as a headlight, because it has the shorter wavelength of light, and strong penetration force.



Also, the company's data is provided as, the silicon oxide = 57%, soda ash = 18%, 10 molecular boric sand= 13%, calcium carbonate = 5%, potassium nitrate = 7%, arsenite = 0.7%, heavy uranium sodium = 0.4%.





The manufacturing of vaseline glass Golden Glow Light has started at Showa-2 (year-1927), and was stopped in Showa-16 (1941) due to the War. It was only 14-years production, and total number is not recorded, but it may be several thousands.

After then, potassium dichromate-yellow colored (not a vaseline glass) " Golden Glow Light " was used .







2) "Battlefield Bridge":

Thailand steam locomotive also uses headlights of uranium glass

After the above article, Mr. Nakamura (our club member residing in Singapore) visited Bangkok of Thailand, and found this Golden glow light.





About 200 steam locomotives of C56 type were produced in Japan in the War time. Among 200, 90 steam locomotives were exported to south Asia.

According to his inquiry to the Ministry of Railway of Thailand, this train was actually from Japan, and the Thailand government decided to exhibit it at the station. There is no record of repairing the light, and the light may be a golden glow light, they say.

This train was used in the railway, which was shown in the famous UK movie "The Bridge on The River Kwai".



Mr, Nakamura took a photo of Bangkok station's Japanese steam locomotive C56. Certainly, the headlight is pale green, and it is the vaseline glass . (March 2003)







Bangkok station "C56" (Headlight is vaseline glass)



Backward photos (back light looks also vaseline glass)







3) The Yasukuni Shrine's SL: C56 (back from Thailand-Burma)

In Showa-11(year-1936), Japan sent 90 steam locomotives to Thailand or Burma. They were used as shown above. After War, all were abandoned.

In 1952, two C56 trains came back to Japan, and one is shown at the Yasukuni Shrine (Tokyo).Unfortunately, headlight was repaired and it is not a Vaseline glass. (In autumn 2006)





Yasukuni Shrine's SL, and it is not a vaseline glass.









4) British car headlights are also uranium glass

Headlight of uranium glass was used not only in the locomotives

A certain Nagoya antiques dealer (Mr. S) imported this automobile head lamp made of vaseline glass .



In U.K. in 1910-20, "NOTEK, FOG - MASTER"(engraved on the glass) was used as a fog lamp for cars.

The diameter is 23 cm. The front of the glass thickness of 2 cm, and it is yellow vaseline glass.

The vaseline glass causes the shorter wavelength of light, and it has strong transmission power. Since UK is a foggy country, it was the right thing.

In Japan's locomotive headlight, the reflector is the vaseline glass.

The British car headlights use vaseline glass as a front glass of the light. So, the principle is different.

(June 2003)



"NOTEK" was one of the largest lamp manufacturer in Germany/Munich before the World War, and it stands for "NOva-TEchniK GmbH"/

It is said that they installed this lamp as a fog lamp to the German trains, besides automotive.(Nov. 2007）







5) Who is the first person to name GOLDEN GLOW?

This is not confirmed who is the first person (or company) to name this light as GOLDEN GLOW.

There is a following article suggesting that an automobile head-light in Europe might be first.(2010-Dec)

Glass Reflectors

Glass mirror reflectors are also used for automobile headlights. These are generally of the so-called "Golden Glow" type, which are made of a special glass having a greenish golden color. The light reflected by this lens is of a golden hue and is claimed to penetrate a foggy atmosphere to a much greater distance than a white or violet light. The back of the reflector is "silvered" in the same way as a mirror. The source of light, of course, sends out rays of all colors; but since the reflection takes place at the "silvered" surface at the back of the reflector, the reflected light must pass through the glass, and in doing so the violet and blue rays are absorbed, while the yellow rays are reflected.Source:

The Gasoline Automobile by Peter Martin Heldt, 1918

The source also mentions that a company called Esterline (later Esterline Angus Instrument) made an automobile headlamp using a Golden Glow reflector. It would seem that “Golden Glow” was used loosely to describe such reflectors. (by Tim, USA, 2008)

I would mention one difference that train's head-light uses vaseline glass in its mirror, and automobile's fog-light uses vaseline glass in its front glass.











6) USA Steam Locomotive head light (Golden glow light in US trains)

Recently, we acquired a big train head light of US steam locomotive made by the Pyle-National Company for the Lackawanna Railways.(later this train was sold to the Alton&Southern Railways.)

It is similar to the above Japanese train light, and using uranium glass in its mirror. The radio-activity is about 5 times higher than back-ground and weak.

Its company name(Pyle-National Company) is embossed on the top of the light, and this company developed the incandescent lamp for trains in 1913. It is not sure that 1913 lamp applied uranium glass reflector or not, but the age is at least 1913 to 1920.

It is 77cm wide, and light diameter is 44cm, very heavy!.

(2010/Dec)

Head lamp of US Steam Locomotive.



US train Head light (Left:natural light, Right: under UV light)

Its mirror is using uranium glass.



MIKADO-type locomotive No.2134 at the Lackawanna Railways in USA The left locomotive moved to Alton&Southern Railway as No.4381, and this lamp.shows its number.

This photo panel and the lamp are donated to the Fairywood Museum in Japan.





7) Another U SA Steam Locomotive head light

In 2014,, Mr. Rick, who is a railway collector in USA, sent me an email, that he wanted to confirm whether his head lights were using vaseline glass or not. After several talks, he send me the following conclusion.

"There are 3-types of vaseline-glassed SL head lights, and he owns No1 and No.2 as follows..



1)Pyle-National Company。 This is identical to the above head light. Maybe around year-1920.

2)Sunbeam Electric Manufacturing Company

No,1 and No.2 do not claim as "Golden Glow Light", but both are using vaseline glass as mirror.

3A ）Electric Service Supplies Co. of Philadelphia (ESSCo) "Golden Glow Light" may be a registered trade mark of this ESSCo.

Japanese Koito Manufacturing Co. might have some relation with ESSCo.

3B） Electric Service Supplies Co. of Philadelphia (ESSCo)

In 2017, Rick send me another ESSCo headlight, which says "Golden Glow, registered in 1912".

Reflector glass is made by Fry Glass Co.

In 2017, Mr. Paul informed us that

(1)"Golden Glow" was registered by Fry Glass Company in 1912, which has been established by Henry Clay Fry in 1902.

(2) Fry Glass provided this trademark (and maybe glass itself) to three US companies, which are Apple Electric Company, Esterline Electric Company, and Electric Service Supplies Company.

(3) Fry Glass became receivership in 1926, and was closed in 1933.

(4) Koito Manufacturing case is unclear, but it was possible that Fry Glass wanted to sell everything.



http://glassian.org/Fry/









Vaseline glass (Uranium glass) have been mostly used at homes.The only scientific/industrial use is this head-light, and Vacuum Tubes (click here) .







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