LUCAS 'SILVER KING' BICYCLE LAMP, 1930's

Joseph Lucas started making lamps in the 1890's, for the shipping industry. This item, made from the early 1900's for bicycles, burning oil, has a very wide wick of 19mm, and gave an adequate light for cycling, in fact almost as good as Acetylene lamps of the time. Used also by the military, there was also a petrol version. This one is civilian and is made of tin plated steel.

Kindly Donated by Pauline Williams.

A1636

NEVILES AUTOMATIC BATTERY SWITCH, 1938

The switch is connected between a large power supply and a rack of batteries to be charged (usually lead acid). The large coil will release the armature when the batteries are fully charged, this will be when the current to the batteries is low enough to release the armature to the coil, the arm will rise at this point removing the fingers which are dipped into two cups filled with Mercury and will interrupt the current to the cells of the batteries.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1573

DAN BUOY, 1950's

Usually connected to a life belt or similar rescue device. When thrown overboard the float rights itself in the water turning upright with the lamp visible, a gravity switch inside the Brass tube brings the lamp on, indicating the position of the life ring or belt. The tube takes size 'D' batteries. The glass dome over the lamp is missing.

Item moved from the Mysteries section.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1580

VEHICLE IGNITION COIL, 1930's

Induction or Vibrator Coil which we think is an early ignition coil, there are no makers marks. Produces a healthy 15mm spark from 12 volts. Nothing more is known about this coil.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1533

C.A.V. 6 VOLT 18 WATT VEHICLE BULB, 1940

Vehicle light bulb 6 Volt 18 Watt with single point bayonet fitting, distributed by C.A.V. and made by Royal Ediswan Type 723. With original box.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1511

NMC VEHICLE CIGARETTE LIGHTER, 1950's

Attaches to the dash of your car, and wired to the fuse box. The compartment is filled with cigarettes and closed, when a cigarette is needed, a button is pressed on the right which warms a small element wired around a Mica strip on the left, when the cigarette starts to glow it is removed and consumed. How the next cigarette does not ignite before the element has cooled is not clear, but it is assumed that this does not happen.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1509

THE 'NOBBY' UNDER CAR HEATER, 1930's

During the fist 40 years of motoring cars would be difficult to start on cold frosty mornings, one solution was to leave a small heater under the engine overnight, just enough to keep the frost away. This is the solution 'The Nobby Under Car Heater' with a fine mesh to prevent fire, the car would usually start eventually.

A1458

'SET RIGHT' FARE REGISTER TICKET MACHINE, 1950's

Bus Conductors Ticket Machine for the Glasgow Bus Company used up until the Conductors on buses were removed, and replaced with drivers/fare collectors.

Pat No. 343119/5869

A0831

1906-1920, VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION BOARD, 1906's

Demonstration board with ignition switch, ammeter light switch, headlamp marked CAV dated 1906, rear lamp, side lamp, two trafficators and working spark plug with generator, and model distributor. Also a Delarelle cigarette lighter.

This board can be demonstrated, the trafficators are the most popular item, and always invoke very happy memories from our visitors.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1179

CAR CUT OUT 6 VOLTS, 1930's

This is a small relay to disconnect the car battery when the dynamo is not running, this would prevent the battery discharging through the dynamo.

A0327

VIBRATOR UNIT FOR POWER SUPPLY, 1950's

The vibrator unit was used to increase the battery voltage of a vehicle to the high tension voltages needed to work valves.Together with a step up transformer, voltages in excess of 100 volts could be obtained. Units like this were common in Car Radios and Military Transceivers of the period. The unit has been cut away to show the contacts and coil inside.

A0325

BOSCH SPARK PLUG, 1914

Early spark plug for Petrol Engines.

A0326

SIRRAM ELECTRIC CAR KETTLE, 1950's

Electric Kettle part of a picnic set, working from 12 volts and connected to a standard cigarette lighter socket in the car.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1238

BREVETEE CAR HORN, 1900's

Early vehicle horn with a diaphragm mounted at the bottom of a shallow horn, driven by a 6 volt coil and a circuit breaker.
This item can be demonstrated, along with a number of other vehicle items.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1217

WWII LUCAS HEAD LAMP COVER

Covers for car headlamps were made compulsory during Wartime. All the light was not only reduced but also directed downwards.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1173

CARBIDE LAMP, 1930's

A small tablet Calcium Carbide CaC₂ is placed in the reservoir in the base, tap water is placed in a chamber above, this is released onto the tablet, on contact with water the tablet will fizz producing acetylene gas, C₂H₂ which is ignited at the burner. The rate of flow of the water can be controlled to give varying amounts of light. When the tablet has been exhausted the unit has to be cleaned before being reused.

A0214

VICTORIAN CARRIAGE LAMP

Probably for use with a candle, although the holder is missing, and has been replaced with a miniature bayonet cap lamp holder.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1209

UNDER CAR HEATER, 1930's

Car heater placed near the engine to prevent frost.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1174

FORD IGNITION COIL OR VIBRATOR COIL (BUZZ COIL), 1920's

Henry Ford was 40 years old when he founded the Ford Motor Company, which would go on to become one of the world's largest and most profitable companies, as well as being one to survive the Great Depression.
These coils used on the model 'T' were possibly made by a sub contractor to Fords the K-W Ignition Company 32 Power Avenue Cleveland Ohio, or the Kokomo Electric co, this particular version was made between 1917 and 1919 and cost $1.29 1n the 1920's. One coil per cylinder was needed, the timing achieved by a contacts on the cam shaft, later one master coil with vibrator and three additional slave coils were used. The connections on the side are studs so that the unit can be slide into a box with spring connections, and are marked (top) 'B' Battery 'S' Spark, and on the end 'T' for Timing. All coils were powered by 6 volts, from a dry battery as chargeable types were not yet commercially available, or by a Magneto Generator, also made by K-W among others. The coil design dates back to 1902 when Ed Huff assisted Ford with his ignition problems used on earlier vehicles.

Bruce Hammond Collection

A1283