What is this light?

colin jones · #1 14-09-12, 03:16

Morning all, I have recently bought this big light and would like to know what is its history and ID. It is about 500-600mm dia and is brass and copper. I asume it is WW11 era and looks like something that would be off a ship. There are no markings that I can see but polished up would look great in any display. Any helpers out there.

Colin.

Lynn Eades · #2 14-09-12, 03:57

Its obviously a trouble light. Its already troubling you

Mike Kelly · #3 14-09-12, 11:45

Hi

It doesn't look like a spotlight to me, the lens appears to be frosty ? Is that just dirt or has it got that way from age . The way it is, the light would be diffused rather than focused ?

The way lights work, is a whole science on its own, with the shape of the reflector and the lens dynamics affecting focal length and width . Mike

colin jones · #4 14-09-12, 13:51

I,m even more troubled now!! So has anyone ever seen anything like this. I think the frosting is from manufacture and it has a lot of dirt as well. But I'm still

Colin.

jack neville · #5 14-09-12, 15:24

You haven't got a stage light have you Col? Not that that would be a problem. Given that you have a .....stage!!

Lang · #6 15-09-12, 03:30

My bet is either a marine deck work light, garden/building/monument display light or as mentioned, a stage light.

maple_leaf_eh · #7 17-09-12, 03:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin jones

Morning all, I have recently bought this big light and would like to know what is its history and ID. It is about 500-600mm dia and is brass and copper. I asume it is WW11 era and looks like something that would be off a ship. There are no markings that I can see but polished up would look great in any display. Any helpers out there.

Colin.

During the First Gulf War (90-91) Canada sent an AOR "tanker" ship to the Gulf. The navy knew how to work with other NATO countries, but had fun with some of the other helpers. Apparently the machinists had to make a number of fittings so everyone could refuel at sea. After a while, someone asked what "that" piece was for. No one could immediately recall, but an old salt observed. 'It's big, it's brass. It must be British.'

Little Jo · #8 18-09-12, 11:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin jones

Morning all, I have recently bought this big light and would like to know what is its history and ID. It is about 500-600mm dia and is brass and copper. I asume it is WW11 era and looks like something that would be off a ship. There are no markings that I can see but polished up would look great in any display. Any helpers out there.

Colin.

Hi Colin

I think I may have solved the ID of your strange light. Now bare with me....In the wartime movie. "ACTION IN THE NORTH ATLANTIC" Starring Humphrey Bogart, he is in the merchant navy and his ship is sunk by a German Submarine. The sub surfaces to finish them off, and low and behold I noted your strange light mounted on the conning tower and used to spot the survivors in the water.

Problem solved. If it is not your light, well then it must have a twin in the German Wartime Navy.

Cheers

Tony

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #9 19-09-12, 03:03

Hi Colin - had to trawl my archives for this one. My best guess is that it is a vehicle light, possibly a variant of an FWD spotlight. Images EO3 and E12 are South Australian. I can network to the owner you if you desire.

Bob

colin jones · #10 19-09-12, 06:03

Thanks Bob but my light would be double that size and is round at the back. Thanks to Tony, I'm convinced now that it came off the German sub that finished off Bogarts ship

.
Colin.

jack neville · #11 19-09-12, 06:54

....................so the Germans must have found it floating in the Atlantic AFTER the Titanic sank. It all fits Col!!!! How lucky are you???

Mike Cecil · #12 19-09-12, 18:01

Bob,

The FWD lights were Acetylene powered (hence the vented outlet at the top), not electric with a large (frosted/white) bulb.

I agree with Lang: looks like a 'working lamp' for area illumination.

Mike C