What aircraft is this lamp from??

[AeroTRrat]

Once again, I need the assistance of the warbird community experts. I bought the aircraft lamp (photos attached) with the plan to make a desk lamp from the neck and light housing… but making lamps from pistons (flyingcircleh.com) looses some of the “cool factor” if I can’t identify the parts.

This thing has me stumped. The only ID on it is the rubber stamped number 121329 and the cast in number SA-1370-A (logo) on the bottom of the box. Top of the box has a “proper” military paint job, with the “ON OFF” cleaned off with a thumb.

I would like to know what the logo is also. Looks like 2 back to back “D”s, a “C” and the abbreviated “Co.” Could the “OK TO V CLOSE” be a clue to the year?

The brass gooseneck is stamped with FARIE MFG CO. which I know was an old lamp making firm in Decatur IL.

I’m thinking aircraft because it has a 28 volt, 2 contact, bayonet type bulb (GE Mazda). It’s all non-mag, ie: aluminum, brass, stainless. The box holds a ceramic rheostat with OHMITE CHICAGO on it. Correct Bakelite knob for WWII era controls.

My guess is that it is from a cargo or transport type plane, but that is a guess only. Can’t figure out the date. Maybe SAC era? I have studied interior photos of lots of WWII planes and they all have the articulated lamp common in B-17s, B-29s.

Anybody have a clue? Thanks for your help.

[The Inspector]

The OK TO CLOSE with the letter and number would be the 'bug number' assigned by the manufacturer to a specific Inspector in their facility to make it traceable back to that individual in case of malfunctions.
Looks like someone in the past used an old Q Tip and some nearly dried SRF primer to give the switch plate a 'dressup'

[Dewayne Doud]

This lamp sure looks like the one shown here in Taigh's PV-2D thread below. Installed in the radio operator's position.

http://warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=38160&start=435#p442799

The V on the inspector's stamp probably stands for Vega aircraft

Check out link below to the Lockheed section of inspector's stamps to see a similar V stamp

http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/astamps.htm#LOCK

Hope that helps,
Dewayne

[Taigh Ramey]

Dewayne is spot on. That is not only the correct type used in the Harpoon but it even has the Lockheed Vega inspectors stamp and part number.

Any chance I could trade you another lamp for it and put the Lockheed approved one in the Harpoon? The PV-2 carried two of these lamps. The other one goes back at the tunnel gunners station.

[AeroTRrat]

Hey Inspector, Dewayne And Taigh,

This forum NEVER lets me down. You guys are incredible. Now I know where the lamp is from and I can build a cool lamp with it... Hold on... Taigh, of course you can have this one with the inspection stamp on it. Unfortunately I took the green paint off the top!! It virtually just flaked off. I hope that didn't wreck it for you. If you have a 4 year old, you could get it painted again and it would look the same as original.

Just so you know, Art at Banaire has a LOAD of these things. On the web site, go to ELECTRICAL HARDWARE, LIGHT FIXTURES, and scroll down to SA374. There it is. I have no idea if they all have this "V" inspectors stamp, but I certainly will trade you this one for a similar one. In fact all I need is the parts from the box up (the gooseneck and lamp head).

Let me know where to send it and I will get this one to you straight away.

Thanks again all for the help.
Dave

[JDK]

Unfortunately I took the green paint off the top!! It virtually just flaked off. I hope that didn't wreck it for you. If you have a 4 year old, you could get it painted again and it would look the same as original.

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