Vintage Battery Torch Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Deano29 · 13th Feb 2021, 5:12 pm

Hi,

I recently acquired this vintage torch made by Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this torch? I've tried to do my own research on it but I can't find anything.

it is 275mm high, 90mm wide and made from aluminium

I thought it might be some sort of safety torch for miners etc as it all has rubber seals on the glass and on the battery compartment

If anyone can help that would be great

thanks

russell_w_b · 13th Feb 2021, 9:06 pm

Hi there Deano - welcome to the forum!

It doesn't look safe enough to be a miners' lamp to me. Not for a coal mine, anyway. There wouldn't be open contacts for the battery (if that's what they are) beneath the top: it may arc. I can't find the name Watts Fincham in my 1959 Colliery Guardian, although the company may have changed. I note, however, it appears to have a lock for either the lamp or battery access. Any other marks or stamps on it? Government Phaeton arrows or that sort of thing?

Maybe for use at sea? Grace's Guide suggests Watts Fincham was an engineering company who dealt with ships' stores, amongst other things.

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Watts,_Fincham

Deano29 · 14th Feb 2021, 1:21 pm

Thanks for the reply Russell

Someone that owned it before me have sanded and painted it so I think they have probably sanded of any markings on the outside. The markings I found were in the inside on the rubber/plastic separator cap where the contact points are, where it was printed "Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd"

Thanks for your help, I will keep researching and hopefully find what it was used for

Dean

ParcGwyn · 14th Feb 2021, 5:04 pm

I think the torch may have been produced as a safety torch for use in mines, FRANK WHEWELL JOLLY, WATTS FINCHAM AND Co Ltd filed a patent for such . https://patents.google.com/patent/GB...+WHEWELL+JOLLY

Dave
GW7ONS

Graham G3ZVT · 14th Feb 2021, 5:59 pm

The brand WEFCO may be relevant
https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ails/r/C632882

I wonder if it's this Wefco model VI from a 2016 ebay listing, unfortunately the images have gone AWOL.

https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Vintage-Wefc...-/122039128146

13th Feb 2021, 5:12 pm	#1
Deano29 Diode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, UK Posts: 2	Vintage Battery Torch Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd Hi, I recently acquired this vintage torch made by Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd. I was wondering if anyone knew anything about this torch? I've tried to do my own research on it but I can't find anything. it is 275mm high, 90mm wide and made from aluminium I thought it might be some sort of safety torch for miners etc as it all has rubber seals on the glass and on the battery compartment If anyone can help that would be great thanks Attached Thumbnails

13th Feb 2021, 9:06 pm	#2
russell_w_b Dekatron Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Penrith, Cumbria, UK. Posts: 3,687	Re: Vintage Battery Torch Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd Hi there Deano - welcome to the forum! It doesn't look safe enough to be a miners' lamp to me. Not for a coal mine, anyway. There wouldn't be open contacts for the battery (if that's what they are) beneath the top: it may arc. I can't find the name Watts Fincham in my 1959 Colliery Guardian, although the company may have changed. I note, however, it appears to have a lock for either the lamp or battery access. Any other marks or stamps on it? Government Phaeton arrows or that sort of thing? Maybe for use at sea? Grace's Guide suggests Watts Fincham was an engineering company who dealt with ships' stores, amongst other things. https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Watts,_Fincham __________________ Regds, Russell W. B. G4YLI.

14th Feb 2021, 1:21 pm	#3
Deano29 Diode Join Date: Feb 2021 Location: Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland, UK Posts: 2	Re: Vintage Battery Torch Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd Thanks for the reply Russell Someone that owned it before me have sanded and painted it so I think they have probably sanded of any markings on the outside. The markings I found were in the inside on the rubber/plastic separator cap where the contact points are, where it was printed "Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd" Thanks for your help, I will keep researching and hopefully find what it was used for Dean

14th Feb 2021, 5:04 pm	#4
ParcGwyn Hexode Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Aberystwyth, Wales, UK. Posts: 358	Re: Vintage Battery Torch Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd I think the torch may have been produced as a safety torch for use in mines, FRANK WHEWELL JOLLY, WATTS FINCHAM AND Co Ltd filed a patent for such . https://patents.google.com/patent/GB...+WHEWELL+JOLLY Dave GW7ONS

14th Feb 2021, 5:59 pm	#5
Graham G3ZVT Dekatron Join Date: May 2010 Location: Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 18,710	Re: Vintage Battery Torch Watts Fincham 1932 Ltd The brand WEFCO may be relevant https://discovery.nationalarchives.g...ails/r/C632882 I wonder if it's this Wefco model VI from a 2016 ebay listing, unfortunately the images have gone AWOL. https://www.ebay.ie/itm/Vintage-Wefc...-/122039128146 __________________ -- Graham. G3ZVT