Armspear Manufacturing Company began operations in the 1880s as the Railroad Signal Lamp and Lantern Company. They produced durable, high-quaility lanterns, many of which survive in tact today because of the steel guards that protected the globes.

Armspear began producing this short-globe lantern in 1925; they continued to produce this model until 1931. Station masters communicated with trains engineers using railroad lanterns and a standard signal set with movements that meant stop, reduce speed, proceed, back, and apply and release air brakes.