c. 1943 WWII USN Hands-Free Trouble Light

[Private Lugnutz]

I spotted this hands-free “miner’s lamp” at the flea market this morning.

Upon further inspection I saw that it had a nice big WWII-era “USN” mark embossed on it.

These were used by electricians, machinists, mechanics, and others in electrical rooms and engine rooms and other dark bowels of ships. The canister takes four (4) D Cell batteries and has a clip to wear on a belt. The lamp on the other end of the cord has a provision for hooking on a helmet or through a headband and it tilts with about 90* of range.

I took it apart (there's a provision for an extra bulb inside the lamp), cleaned it up, and reassembled it.

Here's another BEFORE shot...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here are some AFTER pics...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Oh, and the most important AFTER shot!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

The mfgr is The Metal Ware Corporation of Two Rivers, Wisconsin, which used the “Empire” brand for all kinds of household appliances, including flat irons and coffee percolators, before the war, since at least the early 1930’s.

They had at least three wartime contracts for these lanterns...

The last contract on that list worth $64,000 was with the US Army Signal Corps and the first two worth $78,000 and $63,000 respectively were with the US Navy. I included a little table in that excerpt from the beginning of my WPB contracts book showing the contracts codes, which include XSS (Ships).

I'm really glad I found this lamp.

The Metal Ware Corporation is a great example of a commercial company making commercial products with facilities and production that was converted into a military factory for the war effort. I found a report from 1944 discussing how they were allowed to start making flat irons again when companies were re-converted back to commercial industry.

 

[Provincial]

Cool!

 

[nadogail]

May you enjoy that find for many years in good health.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Cool!

Thanks, Jock!

May you enjoy that find for many years in good health.

Thank you, sir!

Before someone else points it out, I know it's missing a nut - probably a wingnut, to keep the lid tight. I will be searching for a suitable replacement.

 

[Provincial]

I would think a knurled brass barrel nut like for lampshades or electrical terminals.

http://i.ebayimg.com/images/i/161668663706-0-1/s-l1000.jpg

Or:
https://www.bplampsupply.com/images/products/bg/20730.jpg

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Could be. I'm going to see if I can find a period photo.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found one on Worthpoint. You called it.

 

[jabberwoki]

Very damn cool.

 

[RubiconJK]

Awesome find and great clean up! Congrats!

 

[captain14]

Great find there. Can you go over your cleanup procedure for this era of tools?

 

[misterbill]

Perfect for those midnight trips into the dark recesses of the Lugzonian.

Nice find.

Bill

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Perfect for those midnight trips into the dark recesses of the Lugzonian.

Haha! You don't know how true this is! Even with all the lights on, I am often reaching for a flashlight for drawers and also things in the back of a stand-up cabinet.

Can you go over your cleanup procedure for this era of tools?

For very light surface rust, I use common penetrating oil (WD-40, Kroil, etc) and 0000 steel wool. I hit stubborn spots with a toothbrush type steel brush (in corners and crevices etc) or a fine grade foam sanding block (on large flat surfaces). Occasionally that might leave scratches, which can be erased with the steel wool. Any severe rust-coated/encrusted tools that aren't black oxide I soak in a tub of Evaporust or Metal Rescue. Lately I've been favoring Metal Rescue. They work like magic. Twenty minutes, one hour, four hours, rarely overnight, and voila, no more rust.

I soaked these parts in Metal Rescue for 30 minutes. There were some nasty rust spots around the top of the canister where moisture got trapped under the lid. I scrubbed those with WD-40 and a wire brush and the sanding pad.

 

[JoCoSawdust]

Damn!! You find the coolest stuff. Extraordinary!!

 

[Farmer J.]

Nice find Lugz, and it cleaned up well.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Very damn cool.

Awesome find and great clean up! Congrats!

Damn!! You find the coolest stuff. Extraordinary!!

Nice find Lugz, and it cleaned up well.

Thanks, fellas. Spiffing that up and putting it back into service is my idea of a perfect lazy Sunday.

What a blast from the past!
I can tell you that in the 1970's, we were still using those in the US Navy aboard ship. They were typically kept in the repair lockers, which were rooms with emergency equipment, and during a casualty such as a fire, we would don our OBA's (Oxygen Breathing Apparatus) and clip one of those lights on!

Thanks for adding this anecdote, phil! I am not surprised one bit they lasted that long in the inventory and those kinds of stories are the ones that give an old tool a heartbeat.

 

[ndnchf]

That's awesome Lugz! Ive never seen one of those. I'll have to post some photos of the WWII USN battle lantern I just refurbed for my Civil Defense jeep.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

That's awesome Lugz! Ive never seen one of those. I'll have to post some photos of the WWII USN battle lantern I just refurbed for my Civil Defense jeep.

Thanks, and please do. Those are cool with the big 'porthole lens' and the handle. I see them often. Unfortunately, always overpriced because they are popular with antique décor folks for fireplace mantles, etc.

 

[ndnchf]

Thanks, and please do. Those are cool with the big 'porthole lens' and the handle. I see them often. Unfortunately, always overpriced because they are popular with antique décor folks for fireplace mantles, etc.

Done!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I don't see it.

Edit: nm. I see it. I thought you meant here.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Found a nut in one of my bins that fit.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Thank you, sir!

Here it is with a cousin-in-arms - of sorts! A BELL SYSTEM Light-Stick. As you can see, they were non-detachable, but there is a belt clip on the back of the can. (The resemblance dawned on me when I went to put it away.)

Pic 2 are some Navy hands-free flashlights you don't want to have to use!

 

[tym]

Nice restoration! Did you coat the cleaned metal with anything to prevent future rust?