Warbird Information Exchange

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 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'

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Don't make me go get my flying monkeys-

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

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.

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Thank you!

Taigh Ramey
Vintage Aircraft, Stockton, California
http://www.twinbeech.com
'KEEP ‘EM FLYING…FOR HISTORY!'

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

POST OF THE DAY!...

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com