Brian Wolfe

Hi Speagle,

Very nice gift. If you have posted this before then we are both having that darn "senior's moment". When I was younger we called it a "brain freeze".

Thanks for posting this interesting and touching artifact.

Regards

Brian

Hi Dan,

Hi Dan nice B'day gift. Fortunately due to the number of these "out there" you should be able to find all of the parts you'll need.

The Australian bayonets seem to have flooded the market up here in Canada and at the moment out-number the British made bayonets. Still they command a price tag of $125.00. I'm looking for a 1918 dated British bayonet for my WWI Enfield at the moment; problem is that the couple I have found at shows are all in excelllent condition. It's a problem because the rife has been there and seen that, or rather done that, so the bayonet needs to be in less than perfect condition.

Do be sure to post your progress as you restore this historic weapon.

Regards

Brian

The Traffic Guardian Hand Lamp

The Traffic Guardian Hand Lamp was made by Forster Equipment Co. Ltd. of Whetstone; Whetstone is a village and civil parish in the Blaby district of Leicestershire, England. All three lamps featured here were battery powered.

The lamp is six inches tall and 1¼ inches thick. These lamps would date to pre 1927 when they were replaced by a cylindrical model. I have read where these were still being used for rummage duties in the late 1960s and early 1970’s.

While the three lamps in my collection would appear to be the same there are some differences. The lamp with the brass City of Sheffield Police (numbered 1605) plate has a convex lens, the lamp from the Nottingham City Police (numbered 42) has a flat lens. Please note the “Tam 1” scratched below the police identification tag which I would assume was some designation by the Nottingham Police (numbered 42). The third lamp from the Bucks Constabulary (numbered 1603) has a convex lens, however, this lamp has two sliding coloured lens, one red and the other green. I am going to stick my neck out and assume that this one was the only true Traffic Guardian Hand Lamp of the three as the red and the green lens would indicate traffic use.

There is a button on the top to turn the lamps on and off. These three also have the familiar double handle and belt clip on the back indicative of police lamps.

Regards

Brian

Hello Bernhard,

We usually read, here on the forum, of the many machines to take life during the war years; it's refreshing to read about something that helped to save them.

A very interesting article, thanks for taking the time to post it.

Brian Wolfe

The Wootton Lantern

Featured here is the Wootton Lantern made by Smiths and Son (Cricklewood) and were used from the 1920s to the 1940s.

The lamp itself was designed by George Arthur Henry Wootton who was the Assistant (Chief) Engineer of the Metropolitan Police in the 1920s. The patent carries the date of 23^rd November, 1922. As may be seen in the photo below there is a compartment in the front under the lens which holds a spare bulb, which is broken in this case.

The two lamps shown below have different plates on the front; one with the manufacturer’s name and the other with a note about the need for periodical cleaning. The photo also shows the on/off switch on the lamp’s top. This lamp was powered by an accumulator (battery) of 2 volts and the lens was able to be focused by turning the metal ring around the lens.

The lamp to the right of the photo above is also marked with the number “3” on the front and was used by the military as is indicated by the broad arrow mark on the bottom as show in the photo below. The lamps were used mainly by police and fire department but as show by this example also by the military.

The manufacturer of these lamps, Smith’s and Son was situated in Cricklewood, an area in north-west London which is five miles (8.2 km) from Charing Cross. Cricklewood was the home of Smith’s Industries which was started in 1915 as S. Smith & Sons, on the Edgeware Road. Originally they manufactured fuses, instruments and accessories including the Wootton Lantern. By 1939 they were producing electrical motors, aircraft accessories and electric clocks.

What is significant about this lantern to my collection is that it is one of two lanterns that were designed by police officers. The first one, featured earlier in this series, was an oil lamp designed by Philip Bicknell, chief constable of Lincolnshire, 1856-1902.

Regards

Brian

I'll post the results when I get to it.

Summer's great but way too busy.

Regards

Brian

Thanks for posting this information IrishGunner.

I have several fliers who were KIA during the First World War that I will be researching now I have this website.

Regards

Brian

Once again you've turned out a master piece.

For those how haven't already done so, do check out Spasm's web site, you won't be disappointed.

Regards

Brian

Your work just gets more and more amazing; you know I'm a fan.

Thanks for posting these.

Regards

Brian

Very interesting post and I do look forward to the whoile article when it is ready.

Regards

Brian

Another masterpiece, thanks for posting it,Spasm.

Also thanks to Larry for reintroducing this topic as it is evident several members missed it the first time around (not to mention me).

Regards

Brian

A very interesting post with what I consider exceptional personal artifacts.

I have a certificate to a Special Constable from the General Strike of 1926 and will be posting an article ont he strike later this year.

I hope you will be agreeable to add a photo of your father's truncheon to the articale at that time.

Regards

Brian

Drat! We in that area just two weeks ago.

Oh well, thee trip at that time was unavoidable...inlaws.

Regards

Brian

Mervyn, I would think the blade screwed in to prevent accidental loss from the scabbard. These were were used as tools for cutting ropes and when needed nets to free the diver and not so much so as weapons. I don't think they were used by scuba divers, or "frogmen", but by the divers in the large round brass helmets and attached to an air pump on the ship above.

Regards

Brian

One cannot express the emotions this generates.

Thanks once again Rick.

Regards

Brian

Thanks for bringing this to the membership's attention.

After 100 years this is both an amazing and moving event.

Regards

Brian

Hi Dieter,

A really nice find in the manufacturer's marked Golden Kite. I haven't been around the Japanese collecting field that long but it is the first marked specimen I've seen.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

I don't have one in my collection but I do agree with Paul that it is genuine.

When you say you got "took" are you saying that you paid too much?

Nice specimen regardless of price.

Regards

Brian

A nice looking pair. The 1914 Star looks to be in very nice condition.

Regards

Brian

Thanks Brian, and just for you .....

Sweet!

Regards

Brian

This is a WWII NCO sword so not an ancient blade but rather a machine made one. Handle is aluminum. The prices for these are quite inflated, they're worth around $350 to $400. and you'll see them for anywhere from that range to $500. and even $700. Of course I could ask $1,200 for mine but that is not really what it would be worth. True died-in-the-wool ancient blade collectors consider these as garbage, however those of us who appreciate the history of the WWII Japanese blade think they are treasures in themselves.

Thanks for posting it.

Regards

Brian

Hi Tony,

Nice artifact, thanks for showing it off.

I've never seen one with the fuse intact...fuse? Now that's a little scary.

Regards

Brian

I admit to having no taste when it comes to such things. Even the colour on the walls of my study were picked out by my wife so I showed her the mounts. She liked them, however, considering the idea should have been to show the decoration off this is a failure. As a decorator item, very well done; as a treatment for a rare collectable it misses the mark.

In this household ... the final word.

Regards

Brian

Excellent presentation.

Thnaks for posting them, Nick.

Regards

Brian

A very nice pair of medals and a wonderful prize. I'll start looking for that "perfect" photo now!

Regards

Brian