Wanted: Lamp or light or Torch

[Phillip]

Hi All,

I am looking for one of these little fellas, (plug and the lamp)

The plug that I am missing is a right angle version, pins are 4mm and 3mm. A straight version (as pictured) will do.

The lamp cover is aluminium and the body and switch are brass.

From what I can gather they were made by British General Electric but I have struggled to find anything similar.

Hoping there is one sitting around on a shelf or in a box somewhere

[Philliphastings]

G'day Phil,

I can't help with the lamp itself but the plug is a 'Nifen' pattern which was in common use in WW2 and after for battery powered equipment.

I had handfuls of the plugs until a few years ago when I gave away trailer loads of goodies before moving. I think I kep two plugs but to be honest they are buried somewhere deep in a 40 foot sea container and it will be a long time before they're disinterred !

I sent an email to a friend in Adelaide who is more knowledgeable about such things and asked him to keep an eye out.

Cheers

Phill

[Phillip]

Thanks Phil,

Good to hear from you and I hope you are well.

British General Electric still make Niphan style plugs, but having a hard time finding the right one and the lamp.

I suspect that these are aviation related? Possibly also related to miners helmet lamps?

The search continues....

[Chris Suslowicz]

Originally Posted by Phillip

Thanks Phil,

Good to hear from you and I hope you are well.

British General Electric still make Niphan style plugs, but having a hard time finding the right one and the lamp.

I suspect that these are aviation related? Possibly also related to miners helmet lamps?

The search continues....

The original plugs were brass/bronze and (I think) intended for marine use. Current production is in stainless steel or plastic, and the manufacturer is completely uninterested in selling to the public.

They were used as battery connectors on radio equipment, and for other military applications - I've seen single and two pin versions used for aerial feeders, and two and three pin versions as power connectors.

I don't think they were used on miners lamps, since disconnecting them with the lamp on might cause a dangerous spark.

What is the lamp off?

Chris.

[Mike Kelly]

Be careful because the UK made Niphan plugs are a different pattern , the Aust. made Niphans are a different size and will NOT interchange with the UK plugs and sockets .

[Philliphastings]

Mike (and Andrew in Adelaide) taught me all I know about WW2 Radio !

We haven't turned up anything so far Phil.

Some years ago I bought some marine grade connectors which were a copy of the Niphan type, even down to the weather proof cap on a chain. They were, however very slightly smaller.

I had the idea to grit blast the chrome plating off and use them to restore some WW2 battery boxes but eventually some now one surfaced.

I will keep an eye out...

Sorry but that's about all I can offer at this point. Good luck.

Cheers

Phill

[Phillip]

Thanks to all responses.

The plug is common for the era but the modern brass/ chrome units are not quite the same and all the old units I can find are bigger.

The lamp is very perplexing, it has its own switch (which now works, along with the 70 year olf globes) and seems to have its origins as some sort of inspection or map light.

The hunt continues.........