Morris Minor Owners Club

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 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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Container for keeping carbide in for lamps?

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

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

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

Chief wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:03 pm 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

Chief wrote: ↑Wed Apr 23, 2025 4:03 pm 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.

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.

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 )

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

Stephen