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.

colin jones · #7 15-09-12, 05:17

Hmm! I was hoping someone would say it came off the Bismark or Derwent or something like that. I can take closer pics if you like!

Colin.

jack neville · #8 16-09-12, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by colin jones

Hmm! I was hoping someone would say it came off the Bismark or Derwent or something like that. I can take closer pics if you like!

Colin.

Colin I'm now certain it's off the Titanic!!! (How's that sound?)

colin jones · #9 16-09-12, 11:51

Thanks a lot jack

so it's not even military

cletrac (RIP) · #10 16-09-12, 15:51

That would be a big let-down!

Joe Lorenzino · #11 16-09-12, 17:50

I have the same type out at the homestead. Mine is made by GE. (Novalux Projector?) I can take a picture of the markings on it if you would like.

The scrap guys I got it from said it came from the draw works building of a mining site they dismantled. I think they were just a weatherproof flood light mostly used for structure illumination back in the 30's & 40's. There were lots of them used in the larger cities to highlight prominent buildings.

After looking at mine before purchasing, I decided that since the outer body is Copper, it would make a wonderful top for a STILL.

Check out the old catalog at____ http//archive.org/details/NovaluxFloodlightingProjectors____

maple_leaf_eh · #12 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 · #13 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) · #14 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 · #15 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 · #16 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 · #17 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

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #18 20-09-12, 07:52

Thanks Mike. When I looked at Colin's images I did not take into account the size of the thing. I was looking more at the style of the swivel mounting on the hoop arrangement. I do not know whether that is a mounting unique to particular spot/search light manufacturers or whether it is a generic style.

It would be interesting to properly identify it and determine its provenance. Perhaps Colin has an annecdote from the seller of its origin to the seller.

I will canvas the image to some naval associates of mine.

In the mean time the romantic notion that it came off a submarine that attacked Bogies ship would be well fitting in Colin's night club shed talk around the bar.

Bob

motto · #19 21-09-12, 11:07

Hi Colin.

The light you have appears to be the same as the one that I recently acquired and requested assistance to identify on this forum a few weeks ago. Unable to post pictures easily I gave a verbal description and the replies indicated that it was a Beach Defence Light.

Funny how these things happen. The weekend before last I was in Mildura and went down to look at the paddle wheelers that had gathered for the hundredth anniversary of the launching of the PS Melbourne. One of the paddle wheelers had two of these lights mounted on it. One on each front corner of the super structure. They were both polished up and looked like they really belonged there.

I have a friend in Mildura who is in the process of building his own side wheeler and I asked him how he was set for external lighting and he said he had nothing so I told him 'you do now'. He was well aware of the lights I had noticed and named the vessel they were on which was the Settler.

If anybody has one of these lights they wish to sell I would be most interested as I would like to present him with a pair if I could. I would buy a couple if I could get them as the one I have is somewhat knocked around.

David

Lang · #20 21-09-12, 13:08

David,

I think "beach defense light" for this one is wishful thinking. I reckon your paddlesteamer mates have the lights doing what they are built for - area/deck illumination.

As far as the bracket arrangement goes this is nothing special and almost every flood light or fixed spotlight ever made has a variation on this system to give you infinite adjustment in all directions.

Little Jo · #21 21-09-12, 15:06

Hi All

I am sticking to the German Submarine that sank Humphrey Bogart.

:

Cheers

Tony

Lang · #22 21-09-12, 21:56

Here it is (or a close relation) Colin - you are on a winner, check out the selling price.

http://unodesmoda.com/2010/12/07/wor...r-flood-light/

What does AGE stand for - Australian or American General Electric?

Lang

colin jones · #23 22-09-12, 00:13

Wow

Thanks Lang, that is the exact same type. I knew it was a lot more valuable than the $150 I paid and mine is in perfect condition. Well it's time to go a polishing!!

Another MLU puzzle solved.
Thanks all for you're input.
Colin.

Bob Moseley (RIP) · #24 22-09-12, 01:43

Well Colin, you bagged another winner. Lang, thanks for the advice about mounting brackets. This is a good result and I am looking forward to viewing your light. Something that large in brass will be awesome to see. At least you have positive facts now As I stated before, the Bogie theory is a good bar story but unfortunately based on a work of fiction.

Bob

Mike Cecil · #25 23-09-12, 05:08

Lang et al,

As far as I am able to ascertain, AGE is Australian General Electric, a subsidiary of Generel Electric Corp (GEC), originally of the USA, but also of Canada, (General Electric Canada): the GEC symbol on a number of 3.7 inch mobile HAA guns in Australia denoting Canadian manufacture.

Seems strange that while Aust was manufacturing and exporting a qty of 3.7in HAA, we also recieved a qty of GEC manufactured guns.

The light (subject of this thread) is not a BDL. Again, I agree with Lang about this point.

Travelling in sunny, but smokey, Montana. Back to WA early next week.

Mike C

jack neville · #26 23-09-12, 12:29

And the 'Unodesmoda' verification that this is a Ww2 flood light is based on what?

Lang · #27 23-09-12, 13:11

Obviously it is - it has a "bullet hole" doesn't it? You can't let a good sales pitch be ruined by facts.

Lang · #28 23-09-12, 13:16

This looks more like the exact one. Also for sale by our old mate Unodesmoda.