MLU FORUM  

Go Back   MLU FORUM > GENERAL WW2 TOPICS > The Wireless Forum

Notices

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 29-02-20, 11:12
Mike K's Avatar
Mike K Mike K is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 5,865
Default Bulb

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.
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad

Last edited by Mike K; 29-02-20 at 11:31.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 29-02-20, 17:01
Robin Craig's Avatar
Robin Craig Robin Craig is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Near Kingston, ON, Canada
Posts: 2,163
Default

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
__________________
Robin Craig

Home of the Maple Leaf Adapter
2 Canadian Mk1 Ferrets
Kawasaki KLR250 CFR 95-10908 ex PPCLI
Canadair CL70 CFR 58-91588
Armstrong MT500 serial CFR 86-78530
Two Canam 250s
Land Rover S3 Commanders Caravan Carawagon 16 GN 07
Trailer Cargo 3/4 T 2WHD 38 GJ 62
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 29-02-20, 17:13
Chris Suslowicz Chris Suslowicz is offline
Junior Password Gnome
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 858
Default

<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.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 01-03-20, 11:01
Mike K's Avatar
Mike K Mike K is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 5,865
Default Tripod

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
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 01-03-20, 13:49
Chris Suslowicz Chris Suslowicz is offline
Junior Password Gnome
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 858
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike Kelly View Post
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.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 01-03-20, 14:52
rob love rob love is offline
carrier mech
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Posts: 7,594
Default

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.
Attached Images
File Type: jpg REL Stand.JPG (60.5 KB, 2 views)
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 01-03-20, 16:06
maple_leaf_eh maple_leaf_eh is offline
Terry Warner
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Shouting at clouds
Posts: 3,152
Default short legs

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.
__________________
Terry Warner

- 74-????? M151A2
- 70-08876 M38A1
- 53-71233 M100CDN trailer

Beware! The Green Disease walks among us!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 01-03-20, 17:30
rob love rob love is offline
carrier mech
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Shilo MB, the armpit of Canada
Posts: 7,594
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by maple_leaf_eh View Post
But I doubt it would stay rigid enough after much handling.

I have the remnants of some of those folding stands that were turned in for scrap. They were still in the supply system at least into the 70s or 80s, and had a NSN assigned to them. I have the "rainbow" tag from them.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 02-03-20, 00:06
Chris Suslowicz Chris Suslowicz is offline
Junior Password Gnome
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: England
Posts: 858
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by rob love View Post
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.)
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 02-03-20, 03:59
Mike K's Avatar
Mike K Mike K is offline
Fan of Lord Nuffield
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Victoria, Australia
Posts: 5,865
Default Wmc

Found a tiny makers stamp

WMC with a N underneath . N would be NSW

FJS & Co Pty LTD 1943 is marked on the leather cap. Aussie disposals had some nice stuff back then . All they have now is ex West German army apparel and other junk. Few years back I did score a few hundred of the Canadian WW2 utility pouches very cheap .
Attached Images
File Type: jpg 20200302_135154.jpg (240.4 KB, 2 views)
__________________
1940 cab 11 C8
1940 Morris-Commercial PU
1941 Morris-Commercial CS8
1940 Chev. 15cwt GS Van ( Aust.)
1942-45 Jeep salad

Last edited by Mike K; 02-03-20 at 04:16.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
25 pounder short Mike K The Gun Park 7 08-07-17 16:58
Short Snorter ? r.morrison WW2 Military History & Equipment 0 02-11-13 20:11
The NEW DAYLIGHT SAVINGS Date STARTED TODAY! Vets Dottir The Sergeants' Mess 3 12-03-07 18:06
Signalling flags c. ladouceur (RIP) The Carrier Forum 1 03-12-03 11:49
British Signal Lamp Stev WW2 Military History & Equipment 1 04-11-03 07:19


All times are GMT +2. The time now is 17:17.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.4
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Copyright © Maple Leaf Up, 2003-2016