Blackout cycle lamp??

[Sean N]

 

It's got a hood that hinges down, and two 'filters' that can be rotated round using the knob, one red and one aluminium. On the back there's a big spring clip almost as though it's designed to clip over a belt or a pocket.

 

In all other respects it's just like the old style cycle lamps that take the big flat tagged batteries.

[Tony B]

General purpose lamp. The red filter can be used as a rear light on a bike, but also to protect night vision. Similar styles were used on the railway and by the police.

[Sean N]

Thanks Tony. Wartime, or later?

[Tony B]

Which war? :-D The design carried on for a long time. The first dry cell torch was pattented 1898. During the First world war there were mainly wooden bodied lamps with a bulls eye lens, though these carried on to the 1950's, but some metal cased ones were produced. I'd give from mid 1920's on.

[Chris Suslowicz]

 

Thanks Tony. Wartime, or later?

WW2 for that one.It's "Lamp, Electric, No.1" and the standard military electric lantern for the period, can be clipped to a belt or hung up (using a wire handle that is missing from your photograph - it's a rectangular loop that fits into the holes at the top of the lamp and also acts as a retaining clip to hold the top on). Battery is the long-obsolete 3 volt No.800 cycle lamp one.The shutter is for blackout use (e.g: on the march) so it only casts light downwards, the red filter is so that you can retain night vision if you need to use a light after your eyes have become dark adapted.Joseph Lucas (Prince of Darkness) and other companies made vast quantities of them.Despite the optimists on eBay and elsewhere, they are not signalling lamps. (Nor bicycle lights.) Chris.

[Tony B]

I got over the battery problem by just buying a slip in battery box and soldering wires on. A couple of quid from Maplin's and such like. Take lamp to make sure the box fits.

[Sean N]

WW2 for that one.It's "Lamp, Electric, No.1" and the standard military electric lantern for the period...Chris.

 

Chris, that makes sense in the context of where I got it; it came in a load of stuff from a sale of mainly WW2 and '50s gear.

 

... can be clipped to a belt or hung up (using a wire handle that is missing from your photograph - it's a rectangular loop that fits into the holes at the top of the lamp and also acts as a retaining clip to hold the top on)... Chris.

 

Again, that makes sense - I have another one or two which still have the handle / loop.

 

Thanks again both of you.