Australian Army Museum of Western Australia > Records

World War 1 - Lamp Signaling Daylight (Lucas Lamp)

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Subcollections

Communications Gallery - Centenary of Royal Australian Corps of Signals

Overview

The Lamp, Electric, Signalling, Daylight, also called a Lucas Lamp, was a portable, electric morse military signalling lamp, used for daylight communications in World War 1 and through until after World War 2. The lamp used an external battery as a power source. An adjustable screen is provided (used with a coloured lens) for night time signalling under enemy observation.

Historical information

Jospeh Lucas Ltd was founded by Joseph Lucas in Birmingham, United Kingdom, in 1897, as a manufacturer of bicycle lamps, bicycle accessories, and motorcycle and automotive electrical parts and accessories. The lamp design was patented in 1916 by Oliver Lucas.
Wooden box painted olive green, with a canvas cover on top. Contains the following parts: Morse key (attached to underside of box lid flap); large lamp lens (electric signalling lamp, daylight, Mark II - 1918, made by Jos Lucas Ltd, Birmingham); adjustable screen; mounting adaptor; sighting tube; bulb holder; ground spike and spike extension pieces; box of spare bulbs and fittings; small lamp lens; electrical cable; three filters (red, yellow, blue); canvas webbing shoulder strap.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-32-54-615

Inscriptions and markings

The "Lucas Lamp" was invented by Oliver Lucas in 1916 and patented by him – hence the use of the "O.L. Type" name sometimes found.

Contextual Information

This lamp is located in the Communications Gallery commissioned by the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia as part of the Centenary commemorations of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals. Communication devices used by the Australian Army also are presented in their operational context throughout the Museum.

Australian Army Museum of Western Australia

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