Description - 'The Albert' ('Go to bed'), commemorating his Royal Highness Prince Albert (husband of Queen Victoria), brass, 'MANUFACTURED BY THOMAS WHARTON' in the United Kingdom, with a registration mark for 1846 (photographs 1 to 23). A 'Go to bed' was used before electric lighting was universally available within houses, with the candle being lit to provide the user with light for going to bed (photographs 1 & 2). This 'Go to bed' consists of a lid & a candlestick holder (photograph 2). The lid has a small circular gilded brass top surface that is essentially horizontal (photographs 10 & 11), a bell shaped upper section with a decorative circular rim around the bottom (right of photograph 2, & photographs 3 to 7), & a long cylindrical lower section, again with a decorative circular rim near the bottom edge (photographs 3 to 9, & right of photograph 13). The lid's circular top surface includes a crown in the centre, & the words 'THE ALBERT.MATCHBOX.' (photographs 10 & 11). The front of the lid's lower section has an attached gilded brass maker's badge, which includes floral decoration, a rhombus shaped registration mark for 1846 in the centre, & the words 'MANUFACTURED BY THOMAS WHARTON' beneath (photographs 7 to 9). The interior of the lid is hollow (photograph 14).
The candlestick holder has a small cylindrical candle that fits within a hollow cylindrical brass cap, which has circular openings at the top & bottom ends (photograph 15 & left of photograph 22). The bottom of the candle fits onto a circular plate, which in turn is attached to a long metal spring (left of photographs 21 & 22). The spring fits within a long hollow cylindrical tube, positioned in the centre of the candlestick holder's hollow cylindrical base (photographs 16 & 20 to 22). The cap is removable with a hollow circular rim around its bottom edge, which includes a small rectangular opening (photograph 23). The cap is fitted to the top of the long hollow cylindrical tube, by pushing it down until the small rectangular opening in the cap's hollow circular rim fits around the small protrusion on the side of the long hollow cylindrical tube (photographs 21 to 23). The cap is then rotated clockwise or anti-clockwise to attach it to the long hollow cylindrical tube (photograph 23). The top of the candlestick holder's base is divided into two sections, both for placing matches (matches not included) in, to light the candle (left of photograph 1, photograph 20, & right of photograph 21). The bottom of the lid fits onto top of the candlestick holder's base via a flange fit (photographs 2 & 3, & 13 & 14). The base's circular bottom surface is flat, to enable the 'Go to bed' to stand upright, & includes a rough dark surface for lighting the match (photographs 1 & 2, & 12).
Condition - The brass exterior surfaces of the lid & candlestick holder have tarnished over time, except around the maker's badge (photographs 3 to 6). They include numerous small discolouration marks & scratches, with the lid also having a small dent on its right side. The brass interior surfaces of the lid & candlestick holder have also tarnished over time, & include numerous dark areas discolouration (photographs 12 to 23). However, 'The Albert' ('Go to bed') functions, & is generally in good condition considering its age & previous use (photographs 1 to 23).
Dimensions - The height of 'The Albert' ('Go to bed') (with the lid on) is 10.2 cm, the maximum diameter 2.5 cm, & the total weight 52 g (photographs 3 to 6).