DB26 Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 I just picked up this old, very small, drop light. Uses an automotive type bulb with bayonet socket. Has a connector that I’ve seen used on tail light sockets. No bulb shield to protect yourself from being blinded. Wooden handle and old rubber coated copper wire. Anyone know anything about who might have made it and when? I don’t see any manufacturer marks. Just curious if it was made for a specific car or application. I know it’s probably very obscure, but it’s worth a shot. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 Probably from a parts store and from the 1920s or 1930s. Maybe some obscure company made them, so no name. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AHa Posted February 16, 2020 Share Posted February 16, 2020 These were aftermarket drop lights for use inside the car from in the twenties. The plug would go in any light socket in the case of trouble and you needed light, generally plugged into the courtesy light socket on the dash. I don't believe they came stock in any cars to my knowledge. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DB26 Posted February 17, 2020 Author Share Posted February 17, 2020 Thanks for the info Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Mereness Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 I would say it has been rewired, but the plug looks to be for a car of 20's to 30's variety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted February 17, 2020 Share Posted February 17, 2020 The dual contacts says it's meant to be used with a headlight socket, or a later design dual-element taillight. Seems strange to have to pull apart a light bucket to use a work light, when many cars had cigar lighter sockets and there are trouble lights that work off the cigar lighter socket, or the reel type cigar lighters that had a light that attacked to the socket once it was reeled out of the dash board ? Makes me wonder if that was rewired and not originally sold that way ??? Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Bond Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 Wish I had photos of what I'm going to try to describe - a garage trouble light that I saw in an old garage in Scotland - the building was absolutely ancient and it was one of those real treasure troves that I was able to get into and acquire a few artifacts from, but the trouble light they used intrigues me to this day. There were two parallel bare wires attached to the ceiling of the garage, mounted with ceramic insulators every yard or so. The trouble light itself was a light fixture at the end of a long wooden pole that was moved around to wherever it was needed. There were two brass "hooks" sticking out of the top that could be just placed over the two bare wires at any point making contact and providing the electrical power to the lamp. At the tip of the wire cage holding the bulb was a small wooden handle so you could grab on and easily relocate the entire contraption to anywhere along the wire run. No extension cord or plug needed. Osha would have loved it! Wish I had photos. Anyone seen anything like it before? Terry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 5 minutes ago, Terry Bond said: Wish I had photos of what I'm going to try to describe - a garage trouble light that I saw in an old garage in Scotland - the building was absolutely ancient and it was one of those real treasure troves that I was able to get into and acquire a few artifacts from, but the trouble light they used intrigues me to this day. There were two parallel bare wires attached to the ceiling of the garage, mounted with ceramic insulators every yard or so. The trouble light itself was a light fixture at the end of a long wooden pole that was moved around to wherever it was needed. There were two brass "hooks" sticking out of the top that could be just placed over the two bare wires at any point making contact and providing the electrical power to the lamp. At the tip of the wire cage holding the bulb was a small wooden handle so you could grab on and easily relocate the entire contraption to anywhere along the wire run. No extension cord or plug needed. Osha would have loved it! Wish I had photos. Anyone seen anything like it before? Terry I have seen those and they actually make some LED lamps for the ceiling that work that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PFitz Posted February 18, 2020 Share Posted February 18, 2020 The original "track lighting". Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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