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Other Vintage Household Electrical or Electromechanical Items For discussions about other vintage (over 25 years old) electrical and electromechanical household items. See the sticky thread for details. |
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5th Mar 2021, 11:44 am | #1 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 2,172
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Lamp ID
hi folks
can anyone identify this vintage lamp's original purpose? The bulb is a MES 4.5V. I'm guessing it's 1940's vintage. thanks Last edited by ITAM805; 5th Mar 2021 at 11:50 am. Reason: add pictures |
5th Mar 2021, 12:01 pm | #2 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK.
Posts: 5,553
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Re: Lamp ID
It looks like a push bike lamp.
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5th Mar 2021, 12:24 pm | #3 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 2,172
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Re: Lamp ID
What with the swivels isn't it a bit over designed for that?
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5th Mar 2021, 12:48 pm | #4 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING.
Posts: 9,147
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Re: Lamp ID
LUCIFER. I think it may be a Swiss Bicycle lamp. J.
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5th Mar 2021, 12:50 pm | #5 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Aug 2016
Location: Colchester, Essex, UK.
Posts: 4,105
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Re: Lamp ID
I believe the brand is 'Lucifer' which does suggest a bike light. 4.5v could either be dry cells or dynamo, but probably the latter..?
Dave |
5th Mar 2021, 1:11 pm | #6 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK.
Posts: 2,531
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Re: Lamp ID
The swivels will give you various mounting options. My first thought was also bike. It would be unusual for the battery pack to be remote on a lamp like this so I'd agree more likely dynamo.
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5th Mar 2021, 1:15 pm | #7 |
Dekatron
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Oxford, UK.
Posts: 17,841
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Re: Lamp ID
Definitely a bike light, I'd say.
Most of the ones we see here are Sturmey Archer. Even some of the dynamo ones had a separate battery pack too, so that the lights didn't go out when stationary. N. |
5th Mar 2021, 1:23 pm | #8 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK.
Posts: 2,172
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Re: Lamp ID
Thanks guys, unanimous it's a bike lamp then. I can't imagine that being very bright on a Swiss mountain road though
Nick, yes I had a Sturmey Archer dynamo front and rear lamps on my bike in the 1960's, looking back it was pretty dim unless you pedalled really fast |
5th Mar 2021, 7:17 pm | #9 |
Nonode
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Somerset, UK.
Posts: 2,129
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Re: Lamp ID
Cycle dynamo lights are commonly 6 volts, not 4.5 volt, but of course the bulb fitted might not be the originally intended type.
Cycle dynamos are designed to supply a roughly constant current at any reasonable road speed. 300ma and 500ma were common ratings, but others existed. |
5th Mar 2021, 8:37 pm | #10 |
Guest
Posts: n/a
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Re: Lamp ID
My first proper bicycle in about 1972 had a hub dynamo (should have been called an alternator, that what it was) along with a battery tube for 3 D cells. On top of that was a bridge rectifier and a single diode to prevent back charging of the battery. And yes, it was to provide light when stopped, the law was changed (in the UK) quite a while later. BTW the rectifier and diode where selenium.
I think the item is a splendid thing. |