Gillet-Forrest railroad lantern. France, ca. 1900.

Gillet-Forrest railroad lantern. France, ca. 1900.
For the SNCF.
Brass.
Measurements: 55 x 43 x 23 cm.

Lantern manufactured by Gillet-Forrest for the SNCF (Société nationale des chemins de fer français), French National Railway Company.

Société Gillet-Forrest was a French company founded in 1889 in Saint-Cloud, near Paris, born from the collaboration between Stanislas Dominique Gillet and Fernand Forest. Initially, it specialized in the manufacture of lanterns for railroads and automobiles, essential products at a time when lighting was crucial for the safety and operability of these means of transport. In 1900, the company diversified its production and introduced its first "voiturette", a small automobile that reflected the emerging trends in the automotive industry at the time. This foray into vehicle manufacturing was significant, as it marked the company's transition from the production of components to the construction of complete automobiles.