Hermann Riemann - Piccolo - Bicycle light - 1904

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Hermann Riemann Piccolo acetylene bicycle lamp dating to around 1904, built in Gablenz, Chemnitz, Germany, in very good condition.

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Description from the seller

carbide lamp (acetylene) of old for bicycles, produced by the German company Hermann Riemann in Chemnitz-Gablenz.
This specific model is named "Piccolo".
Product Details

Manufacturer: Herm. Riemann (Hermann Riemann).
This lamp was produced in Germany, specifically in the Gablenz district of the city of Chemnitz, in Saxony.

Model: Original "Piccolo".

Period: Dating to the early 20th century, with documented models around 1904-1910.
Factory marks: The inscription "Herm. Riemann Chemnitz-Gablenz" is typical of pre-war production and the World War I period.

Operation: The lamp produced light through a chemical reaction between water (contained in the upper tank) and calcium carbide (in the lower tank), which produced acetylene gas ready to be burned.

Visual features: It features small colored side glass panes (usually red and green) and a metal frame often nickel-plated.

Bray 349 Burner
The name Bray engraved together with the number 349
This is a very interesting detail that adds historical value to the lamp.
Who was Bray?
Geo. Bray & Co. was a British Leeds-based company, a world leader in the production of precision burners for gas and acetylene from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
Why is it on a German lamp?
International Collaboration: Although the lamp was built by Hermann Riemann in Germany, Bray burners were considered the best in the world for flame quality and durability. Many European makers of high-quality lamps imported Bray technical components.
The Number 349: In this case, the number refers to the technical specification of the burner (shape or flame power). In catalogs of the era, Bray nozzles had precise numerations to indicate how many liters of acetylene gas they consumed per hour.
Consistent Dating: The presence of original Bray components is typical of lamps produced between 1900 and 1915, further confirming the dating we have inferred.
In practice, this is a lamp with the "engine" (the burner) English-made mounted on a German "body": an example of the technical excellence of the era.

carbide lamp (acetylene) of old for bicycles, produced by the German company Hermann Riemann in Chemnitz-Gablenz.
This specific model is named "Piccolo".
Product Details

Manufacturer: Herm. Riemann (Hermann Riemann).
This lamp was produced in Germany, specifically in the Gablenz district of the city of Chemnitz, in Saxony.

Model: Original "Piccolo".

Period: Dating to the early 20th century, with documented models around 1904-1910.
Factory marks: The inscription "Herm. Riemann Chemnitz-Gablenz" is typical of pre-war production and the World War I period.

Operation: The lamp produced light through a chemical reaction between water (contained in the upper tank) and calcium carbide (in the lower tank), which produced acetylene gas ready to be burned.

Visual features: It features small colored side glass panes (usually red and green) and a metal frame often nickel-plated.

Bray 349 Burner
The name Bray engraved together with the number 349
This is a very interesting detail that adds historical value to the lamp.
Who was Bray?
Geo. Bray & Co. was a British Leeds-based company, a world leader in the production of precision burners for gas and acetylene from the late 19th to the early 20th century.
Why is it on a German lamp?
International Collaboration: Although the lamp was built by Hermann Riemann in Germany, Bray burners were considered the best in the world for flame quality and durability. Many European makers of high-quality lamps imported Bray technical components.
The Number 349: In this case, the number refers to the technical specification of the burner (shape or flame power). In catalogs of the era, Bray nozzles had precise numerations to indicate how many liters of acetylene gas they consumed per hour.
Consistent Dating: The presence of original Bray components is typical of lamps produced between 1900 and 1915, further confirming the dating we have inferred.
In practice, this is a lamp with the "engine" (the burner) English-made mounted on a German "body": an example of the technical excellence of the era.

Details

Brand
Hermann Riemann
Model
Piccolo
Year of manufacture
1904
Located in
Germany
Condition
Very good
ItalyVerified
Private

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