WWII British "Lamp, Electric, No. 1" (Blackout)
Personal blackout and inspection lamp with belt clip, hood and dimmer, marked "LAMPS ELECTRIC NO. 1 / C.H. LTD" with Broad Arrow.
Images
Specifications
| General Information | |
|---|---|
| Country | Britain |
| Manufacturer | C.H. Ltd (attributed to Chloride Electrical Storage Co. Ltd, Manchester) |
| Model | Lamp, Electric, No. 1 |
| Year | Early 1940s, with dated examples recorded from 1941 to 1943 |
| Caliber / Type | Blackout and inspection lamp for British Army and civil defence use, worn on webbing or a belt. |
| Configuration | Stamped steel case with olive green paint, hinged blackout hood, glass lens with dimmer, wire carry handle and rear belt clip. Internal compartment for two dry cells. |
| Serial Number | Not serialized |
| Markings | Rear clip stamped "LAMPS ELECTRIC NO. 1 / C.H. LTD" with War Department Broad Arrow. Some examples in the pattern family also appear with "CES Co. Ltd." and J.L. Ltd (Joseph Lucas Ltd.) markings. |
Historical Summary
The Lamp, Electric, No. 1 was a compact War Department issue blackout lamp used in Britain during the Second World War. It provided short range, downward directed light so that troops and civil defence personnel could work safely in darkness without sending a bright beam toward enemy aircraft or drawing attention to their position.
The lamp clipped to webbing or a belt so that soldiers, drivers, guards and air raid precautions staff could keep both hands free while moving, checking vehicles or reading maps. A hinged hood blocked upward spill and directed the beam to the ground, and an internal dimmer allowed a softer setting that was useful for map reading and close inspection work. Surviving dated examples cluster in the 1941 to 1943 period and show that more than one contractor supplied the pattern.
Markings on this example read "LAMPS ELECTRIC NO. 1 / C.H. LTD" with a Broad Arrow property mark. C.H. Ltd is widely understood to represent the Chloride Electrical Storage Company Limited of Manchester, a major producer of storage batteries, torches and portable lighting equipment. Period ARP blackout lamps marked "CES Co. Ltd." are explicitly linked to Chloride and share very similar construction, which supports this attribution.
Collector Notes
The Lamp, Electric, No. 1 is often mistaken for a simple bicycle lamp, but the belt clip, hood and dimmer point to its role as a personal blackout and inspection light. Collectors look for clear maker and designation stamps, an intact hood and dimmer, and original paint that still shows its wartime olive tone. Heavy overpainting and missing knobs or lenses are common problems on surviving examples.
This pattern displays well alongside British equipment from the same period. Lamps with strong markings and honest service wear tend to be more desirable for many collectors. They sit in a sweet spot: they show real field use, photograph well, and are more affordable than untouched or boxed examples. Reproductions are less common than with larger equipment such as helmets, but postwar lamps and repainted pieces do turn up, so correct markings and construction details are important.
Provenance
- Part of the Relics & Rifles collection.
- Acquired as a complete example retaining its original finish, markings and hardware, including the belt clip and hood.
- Light conservation only: seized parts were freed with Evapo Rust, the interior was cleaned, and paint was preserved rather than stripped. A simple adapter allows modern batteries and a replacement bulb to be used without altering the original case or fittings.
Detailed restoration steps and conservation notes are documented separately in the Restoration Lab section of this archive.
Downloads
- WWII British "Lamp, Electric, No. 1" (Blackout) Profile (DOCX)