Vintage Red Lantern

A garage sale find that needed a good clean was this rustic red lantern.

While getting in to the nooks and cranny's I noticed a stamp punched into it that said Appleton Patent.

I did a bit of researched and discovered that it was an Australian company that made the red railway lanterns from the 50's and 60's that they used to wave the trains to stop, but I still have no idea what the purpose of this lantern is as it has no place for glass to stop the wind from blowing out the candle.

 Any idea's?