1930s Air Ministry RAF Navigator / Radio Operator Lamp 5C/369

This lovely looking vintage lamp is a 1930s Air Ministry RAF Navigator / Radio Operator Lamp 5C/369. The plugs were designed to fit an aircraft's 12 volt electrical system for use by the Navigator for map reading or the Radio Operator for illuminating instruments.

Made from steel, the lamp appears to be in working order: 12 Volt circuit tested without a bulb. In pretty good cosmetic condition with surface scuffs and pitting commensurate with age and use. It is being sold as a collectible, for display only, but it is in working condition.

The lamp comprises:

• The original cloth-spun electrical wire 
  
• A Metal winding handle, to feed the electric wire, which is also used for hanging the lamp. 
• Black bakelite handle-knob
  
• A lamp holder which twists with part of the head masked to ensure light is uni-directional
• A Lucas Light bulb LLB810, 12V 24W BA15D; (which happens to be an internal bus lamp bulb)
• The plug on this particular lamp has probably been converted at some stage to an Ediswan 12 volt/ 2 amp, BS 546, three pin plug. BS546 was the old 2&3 pin system universally used in Britain before the 13A flat pin BS1363, and is now only suitable for use in lighting circuits. 

Approximate Size:

• Base Diameter:  5.8 cm
• Height: 16.4 cm (excluding handle)

Engraved on the base with:-

• Air Ministry Arrow
• 882
• Lamp Inspection MK II
• Commercial Inspection
• Ref No. 5C/369

This type of lamp was often made by J Lucas Ltd, Birmingham, who supplied a solid brass version of the inspection lamps to the burgeoning car market for prestige cars such as Bentley, Rolls Royce, Lagonda and Daimler.

Please click on the following links for more industrial lamps and aviation collectibles.