Quiz time - What is it?

[geoberni]

When I was on holiday in Barbados last month, I visited a private motor museum; all except 1 or 2 of the cars there are owned by Bill Mallalieu (in his 80s), who shows you around personally. He didn't have a Minor on site, but he has one stored elsewhere.
https://www.insandoutsbarbados.com/list ... tor-museum

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The next photo, Bill picked this up from one of the shelves and asked me to guess what it was....
.
I got close, so I thought I'd ask if anyone here knows, or can guess, it's purpose.

Answer after there's been some guesses.
.

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[Bill_qaz]

Container for keeping carbide in for lamps?

[StillGotMy1stCar]

I know what it is.
Bill is close, but no cigar.
Hopefully Berni has a photo of the genius inside.
Lets get some more guesses.

Regards John

[Bill_qaz]

Is it a light, take out the end and turn it over..

[Chief]

Fun Fact: AI told me what it was through Googles' reverse image search

[Bill_qaz]

Fun Fact: AI told me what it was through Googles' reverse image search

Not much fun though in letting AI do it for you.
Not opening the link waiting for the guesses

[geoberni]

Fun Fact: AI told me what it was through Googles' reverse image search

Interesting, whenever I try and use Image Look-up I tend to get 'No Results Found' for actual image, though it will provide similar items.
I guess that's what it did for you.

[geoberni]

OK, it's been a couple of days.

It's a Lucas 17C Spare Bulb Container, made between 1922-1939.
Single headlamp bulb in one end, sidelight, or general use bulbs in the other. I didn't photograph the one I saw, but found some other internal views online.
.

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The Science Museum even has one....
https://collection.sciencemuseumgroup.o ... ase-no-17c

There's some listed on ebay at present, for between £50 - £80:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/126480581817
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/256873746190

This nice polished one went for AU$ 210, which is about £100.
https://online.doningtonauctions.com.au ... m-diameter

So not quite the right period for our cars, but an interesting item nonetheless.

[Chief]

There's also a 12C model:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/173787247930

Personally if it had been hollow through the center I think it would have made a great place to store a flask, keep it hot in the engine bay.
(or an egg boiler )

[svenedin]

That's brilliant. I wish I had something like that for spare bulbs for the Morris!

Stephen