Can anyone tell me what car this was originally from? It is a very high quality Lucas map or dash lamp. It works by turning the cylinder (which contains a festoon bulb) outward to any angle in 360 degrees. One chrome end of the cylinder has a recess which makes or breaks the electrical contact with a protruding pin on one of the supports as it is turned in or out. Thus the lamp extinguishes itself automatically as you turn it in.
I must say it is far superior to those bendy/flexy map lamps you see on eBay!
I would say from the look of it that it's a pre-war lamp that would have been bought as an accessory.
Very nice find and will look very good in a Minor.
Laurie Blewer MMOC member since 1986
Dorset Branch Secretary for ever!!!!
Probably a bit/very late with this. It is a dashboard lamp used on cars of the 1920s. As it happens i am looking for one of these for a Bentley replica so if by any chance you can be temped to sell it please contact neiltig19@googlemail.com