WW2 british ALDIS lamp signalling daylight short range

[fv1620]

What a superb example of the equipment & accessories, thank you for sharing.

I would imagine this was a late war production because the Key W.T 8 Amp No.2 is largely Bakelite indicating it is probably No.2 Mk 3

The original key was entirely machined metal on a Bakelite base as you can see in Fig. 3. This was the No.2 Mk 1 but was not marked as Mk 1 (in the same way as a Series 1 Land Rover is not marked as Series 1)

Later keys were cast metal, Mk 2 keys had less metal & Mk 3 even less.

I have three Mk 1, two Mk 2 & two Mk 3 keys & much prefer the clunky rigid click of the Mk 1 than the softer feel of the later keys. I don't use them for visual signalling, they are in daily use on 2m, 4m & 80m amateur bands.

As a boy in the 1950s I bought the basic set for 12/6 from Pride & Clarke, London. I robbed the key which I still use. I recently bought a scrap set just to get the Mk 1 key & saw the case still had the Pride & Clarke delivery label.

Clive GW4MBS