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

[Mike K]

I had a box full of the special bulbs OSRAM brand . 10 volt I think. I posted the bulbs to a chap in the UK he was teaching boy scouts Morse code with those lamps . Aussie disposals had WW2 dated NOS tripods back in the 1980s I bought two of them. The Australian lamps were made by PMG from memory , the box is not like the UK made sets in that it sort of looks like a thin casting rather than sheet steel. Morse speeds were limited because of the slow acting filament in the bulbs typically 10wpm or less. We had two set up at Corowa years ago . A ex army chap told me during training in Tasmania his unit would set up Aldis lamps between Launceston and Hobart , from Mt Barrow they would relay from mountain tops down to Mt Wellington , at night the range of these lamps was amazing. The larger type lamps are less common.

[Robin Craig]

What a classic example of what this forum is about in the sharing of information worldwide and reading people comment on it and expand the subje

Thank you Wendel

[Chris Suslowicz]

<Nitpick> It's a "Lucas" Lamp (named after its inventor, a Captain Lucas, and not the "Prince of Insufficient Light"), not an Aldis lamp. </Nitpick>

The WW1 versions came in wooden cases (as did the WW2 Canadian version), and there was originally a 12V 'brick' battery to power them, later replaced by the use of a made-up set of eight 'X' or 'S' cells which were standard issue for field telephones, etc. so readily available. The 'S' cells, being manufactured 'dry' could be stored indefinitely but tended to leak once filled if laid on their sides (which they had to be to fit in the battery compartment).

There should also be a similar (less tall) box with an insulating sheet in the lid that contained 16 replacement cells (two batteries worth) for replacement purposes.

Other versions: the "Mounted Services" type, in two leather cases, and the late/post WW2 "Lamp, Signalling, Daylight, Lightweight" in a canvas bag.

Then there was the 'Long Range' model powered by a 10 volt 16AH accumulator, which had a larger lamp assembly (requiring a bulb with a taller stalk to centre it in the mirror focus) and an optical sight.



Chris.

[Mike K]

Found the nos tripods I bought years ago. Don't think they are Lucas lamp
Stand. Instrument. No.21 mk5 there is a round leather cap on top.Dated 1943

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Mike Kelly

Found the nos tripods I bought years ago. Don't think they are Lucas lamp
Stand. Instrument. No.21 mk5 there is a round leather cap on top.Dated 1943

Those are not for the signalling lamp (or heliograph) but they are part of the complete station. That's the telescope tripod for the signalling or scout telescope. (Sadly, the legs are usually shortened drastically by later owners for use with spotting scopes for rifle shooting.)

The Mk.5 has been around for over a century: the one I just looked at (manufactured by Houghton Butcher (a famous camera company)) is a Mk.5 and dated 1916.

The tripod should have a round wooden block on a string to protect the telescope 'jaws' against crushing when not in use, the leather bucket to cover the top (ditto), and a canvas shoulder sling (with a sleeve that fits over the legs) for carrying. (There was also a specialised bit of horse harness for the cavalry to carry tripods.)

Chris.

[rob love]

Research Enterprises Ltd in Canada re-worked a lot of those no21mk5 instrument stands. The legs were shortened and the nomenclature on the head was either milled off or changed with the addition of REL and the Designation of C1A1 . There is some school of thought that they were for use with the no4T rifle setups.

[maple_leaf_eh]

Rob

There seem to be no end to the useful and practical pieces the sniper pairs had available. The No.4T sniper rifle "program", for lack of a better word, had some very clever equipment ancillaries. The chest checklist included a handkerchief to wipe lenses. According to Peter Laidler, one of the most respected No.4T writers until his recent requirement to exchange his liberty for a debt to society, mentioned recycling No.4 butt plate springs as pocket screwdrivers.

To your image of a shortened wooden tripod, the checklist states a conventional but quite long draw tube telescope. Your image of a wooden leg tripod makes more sense for prolonged training issue at a school or as range-use equipment. REL made an ingenious tiny folding stand with a pair of jaws to hold the telescope. But I doubt it would stay rigid enough after much handling.

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by rob love

Research Enterprises Ltd in Canada re-worked a lot of those no21mk5 instrument stands. The legs were shortened and the nomenclature on the head was either milled off or changed with the addition of REL and the Designation of C1A1 . There is some school of thought that they were for use with the no4T rifle setups.

Standard for outdoor ranges if you were using the 3-draw 'Scout' or 'Signalling' telescope, which is quite a long beast (with 'High' and 'Low' power eyepieces but everyone seemed to use the high magnification one).

The more modern spotting scopes with prisms and larger object lenses were a lot easier to use, but wouldn't fit those tripods.

Chris.
(Competitively rubbish with a rifle, much better with a .22 revolver.)