Lamp ID - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

ITAM805 · 5th Mar 2021, 11:44 am

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

Refugee · 5th Mar 2021, 12:01 pm

It looks like a push bike lamp.

ITAM805 · 5th Mar 2021, 12:24 pm

What with the swivels isn't it a bit over designed for that?

Heatercathodeshort · 5th Mar 2021, 12:48 pm

LUCIFER. I think it may be a Swiss Bicycle lamp. J.

The Philpott · 5th Mar 2021, 12:50 pm

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

duncanlowe · 5th Mar 2021, 1:11 pm

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.

Nickthedentist · 5th Mar 2021, 1:15 pm

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.

ITAM805 · 5th Mar 2021, 1:23 pm

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

broadgage · 5th Mar 2021, 7:17 pm

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

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.

5th Mar 2021, 11:44 am	#1
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	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 Attached Thumbnails Last edited by ITAM805; 5th Mar 2021 at 11:50 am. Reason: add pictures

5th Mar 2021, 12:01 pm	#2
Refugee Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worksop, Nottinghamshire, UK. Posts: 5,553	Re: Lamp ID It looks like a push bike lamp.

5th Mar 2021, 12:24 pm	#3
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	Re: Lamp ID What with the swivels isn't it a bit over designed for that?

5th Mar 2021, 12:48 pm	#4
Heatercathodeshort Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Warnham, West Sussex. 10 miles south of DORKING. Posts: 9,147	Re: Lamp ID LUCIFER. I think it may be a Swiss Bicycle lamp. J.

5th Mar 2021, 12:50 pm	#5
The Philpott Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: Colchester, Essex, UK. Posts: 4,105	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
duncanlowe Nonode Join Date: Jan 2016 Location: Stafford, Staffs. UK. Posts: 2,531	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.

5th Mar 2021, 1:15 pm	#7
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,841	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
ITAM805 Nonode Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Folkestone, Kent, UK. Posts: 2,172	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
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,129	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 Guest Posts: n/a	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.