No, tugster is not launching an “antiques road show,” although that’s an idea.   I got the next three photos from Kevin, a reader in Wisconsin, who explains that his mother bought this ship’s lantern in a Malone NY antiques store “about 70 years ago.”  The place had some NYC curios;  for example, the same visit she bought this, she also bought a leather passenger handle for a NYC trolley.

Kevin writes that the lantern was originally from a Dutch ship (“bakboord” IS the Dutch word for port; stuurboord is the Dutch word for starboard.) and then used on a tugboat, Tug No. 118.  So here’s the question:  where was there a Tug No. 118?    NYC?  Toronto?  Buffalo?

Note the oil and wick lighting apparatus.

 

While we’re focusing on this detail and seeing tug’s towing while moving astern, check out the next set of photos that come through Steve Munoz and from Tommy Bryceland.

Ayton Cross clearly has two sets of lights, easier to see on the photo above but with more context below.

So does Bugsier 10, although it’s harder to see.

 

The easy answer must be that CFRs do not require this adaptation for US tugs, but I wonder if it has been considered.

Thanks to Kevin, Steve, and Tommy for the photos, observations, and questions.

Click here for previous posts in this series.