ID Needed for a Signal Lamp

[David Dunlop]

Had this little sucker kicking around for a while but cannot identify if it is Army, Navy or Air Force issue. Two prong plug at the end of the cord is certainly period correct but may not be original, unless, perhaps this item was a classroom training device. I say that because the sights on the top of the lamp are a '3 in 1' configuration: plain central sight tube with a notch and pin setup on top and a pinhole and rectangular graticule arrangement to the left.

Absolutely no ID other than the metal tag on it. The small square metal section of the tag has a C Broad Arrow stamped into it as well as 'S-H' in the center of the square.

The lower trigger activates the lamp, the upper trigger operates a moving curved mirror. Both are spring loaded to default to an 'off' position. Lamp mounts internally at the right side of the case, viewed from the rear.




David

[Ed Storey]

I believe the Reference Number 5A/760 indicates that it is of RCAF origin.

[Brian Gough]

Check out Aldis Lamp on "the google".

Hope this helps.

Brian

[David Dunlop]

Big help, Brian.

Learned the manufacturer was the Sutton-Horsely Company in Toronto and this item seems to have undergone a progressive metamorphosis throughout the war. Lots of photos of versions of this lamp in RCN use for the most part with some references to RCAF.

Plug might be original as WRENs used them for training, but most indications are a special plug was in the end to connect with either a small wooden battery box or the low voltage mains on a ship. The lamp may or may not have been issued with a wooden transit case and this case may or may not have had provision for the wooden battery.

Not sure yet what the bulb looked like, or its voltage, but we are making progress.


David

[Brian Gough]

David, I think these lamps were also used in the towers on the BCATP bases for signalling aircraft.

I have a double one (red and green lens) I believe was used in the Oshawa tower (EFTS #20) and postwar. The two lamps themselves are Ref. No. 823, the red lens cover is Can. Ref. No 5A/1152 and the green lens cover is Can. Ref. No.5A/1320.

Currently on Kijiji there are 2 listed for sale in Ontario.

https://www.kijiji.ca/b-ontario/aldi...0l9004?dc=true


Brian

[Mike K]

I had the same Aldis lamp , made by AWA here in Aust. It was green and in a wooden box .