Vintage paraffin bike lights

[classic33]

@bagpuss, if there is one, on the rear light, what name/location is given.

In 1904 they were trading as Isaac Sherwood & Son Ltd., at 44-50 Granville Street, Birmingham, by 1920 they had taken over/merged with Linley & Co. of 73-75 Great Lister Street, makers of ‘American’ pattern lamps to become Sherwood-Linley. Nechells Park Works, Eliot Street, Nechells, then moved back to 44-50, Granville St., all in Birmingham.

 

[bagpuss]

RARE 1920'S "NEFA" (BRITISH MADE) BATTERY BICYCLE LAMP - NICKEL OVER BRASS​

1920's for the "NEFA" light.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/1920s-nefa-british-made-battery-426238511

Any patent numbers on the base of either?

Thank you for the link . I remeber seeing that ebay sale some years ago .
The nickle plating on the one I have is complete .
The Speedwell one I think was made by this firm .

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Speedwell_Gear_Case_Co

The Reg design number is I think 742589 . The numbers are a very small stamping .
Speedwell Birmingham is clearly visable.
I have tried entering it into the gov design search here.
https://www.gov.uk/search-registered-design

Nothing came up . To old to be listed ? or old registered designs have not been digitised .

 

[Poacher]

RARE 1920'S "NEFA" (BRITISH MADE) BATTERY BICYCLE LAMP - NICKEL OVER BRASS​

Thank you for the link . I remeber seeing that ebay sale some years ago .
The nickle plating on the one I have is complete .
The Speedwell one I think was made by this firm .

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Speedwell_Gear_Case_Co

The Reg design number is I think 742589 . The numbers are a very small stamping .
Speedwell Birmingham is clearly visable.
I have tried entering it into the gov design search here.
https://www.gov.uk/search-registered-design

Nothing came up . To old to be listed ? or old registered designs have not been digitised .

I suspect that older registered designs haven't been digitised. Why not? I pay my taxes!
Anyway, 742589 places the registration in late December 1928, interpolating from my list of glass registrations:
742514 was registered 15/12/28
742740 was registered 2/1/29

 

[classic33]

There was a Speedwell Cycle Co. (J.K. Rowland) factory in Coventry in 1926. They also had a factory/manufacturing premises in Birmingham at the same time.

"Speedwell Birmingham" brings up an area of Birmingham, which may have got its name from these premises.

 

[simongt]

Joseph Lucas Ltd, Birmingham.

Ahh, Joe Lucas, also known as the 'Prince of Darkness' when the coy. began developing electric cycle lamps. Can't think why - ?

 

[Ian H]

Again, thankyou very much. That link is exactly like my rear lamp and both appear to be complete. The lenses on them are not scratched either. Interesting that the change was to carbide lamps, I had presumed that carbide lamps came first as dipping a chemical in water seems much more "agricultural" than lighting a wick.

According to an old friend who was riding in the 50s, carbide lamps were better than contemporary battery lamps, and streets ahead of oil lamps.

 

[Tail End Charlie]

And she lives on!!! Took a bit of experimentation to find the best wick length, I had it too long at first, hence the black smoke. The light output looks better than it is in real life. Question is, do I risk riding a bike with what is basically a Molotov cocktail on the front?

 

[classic33]

And she lives on!!! Took a bit of experimentation to find the best wick length, I had it too long at first, hence the black smoke. The light output looks better than it is in real life. Question is, do I risk riding a bike with what is basically a Molotov cocktail on the front?

View attachment 638471
View attachment 638472

Looks good.

Just think with about the rear light, on early morning rides. It should keep the rear warm.

What do they look like in daylight, compared to before you started on them?

 

[Tail End Charlie]

Looks good.

Just think with about the rear light, on early morning rides. It should keep the rear warm.

What do they look like in daylight, compared to before you started on them?

Pretty much the same as the first pic, I've only degreased them. I'll post some pics when able to.

 

[bagpuss]

Talking of Carbide . I have cleaned it up a bit since I took this picture .

Northern Star carbide lamp powder . by rebalrid, on Flickr

 

[Teamfixed]

Very nice and much better than so called 'Wonder lights' from the 80's😂

 

[Deleted member 1258]

Very nice and much better than so called 'Wonder lights' from the 80's😂

I remember them, I'd been better off with a candle rather than a Wonder Light, I used to train on dark country lanes early on winters mornings with just a Wonder Light on the front, I must have been mad, its a wonder I didn't hit something.

 

[Moon bunny]

I suspect that older registered designs haven't been digitised. Why not? I pay my taxes!
Anyway, 742589 places the registration in late December 1928, interpolating from my list of glass registrations:
742514 was registered 15/12/28
742740 was registered 2/1/29

RARE 1920'S "NEFA" (BRITISH MADE) BATTERY BICYCLE LAMP - NICKEL OVER BRASS​

Thank you for the link . I remeber seeing that ebay sale some years ago .
The nickle plating on the one I have is complete .
The Speedwell one I think was made by this firm .

https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Speedwell_Gear_Case_Co

The Reg design number is I think 742589 . The numbers are a very small stamping .
Speedwell Birmingham is clearly visable.
I have tried entering it into the gov design search here.
https://www.gov.uk/search-registered-design

Nothing came up . To old to be listed ? or old registered designs have not been digitised .

To be honest the registered designs don’t tell you much you don’t already know if you have the object in your hands, just details like the shape of the tanks and hoods.

 

[bagpuss]

Wonder lights ! 1960's to the 1980's .It was the batteries that were crap. They could of been made better even then . Companies were more interested in selling a lot of them rather than fewer ,hence the very poor burn time .

Even now stardard battiers have poor burn times .lithium ion batteries are much better impo . Again cost over cheapness .