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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - TD Inspection Hand Lamp

I've often wondered what exactly plugs into the two pin socket in the centre of the dash. The Driver's Handbook states that "a two pin socket is provided for an inspection hand lamp or map reading light". Was this an optional extra or was the new owner expected to source something from an accessory or parts supplier? The socket comes with a plug & a couple of pins which I have. I've heard there have been items on Ebay purporting to be such but as I've never actually seen one, I'm flying blind. The archive has nothing on this apart from a couple of TF threads which don't help. Is there a genuine Abingdon TD item? If so what does it look like? Can anyone post a pic? Now that I've finished the dash & have a glovebox it seems this would be a nice item to stick in it. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter, google Lucas inspection lamp and select images and they are all there. A TD dash is also pictured.
Rod Brayshaw

Unfortunately the glove box is on the wife's side of the car ... finding room for an inspection lamp is out of the question lol!
Cliff Harvey

I guess I'm lucky cause unless I fit seat belts she won't get in so I've got me a mobile man cave! Found the images Rod but there seems to be some variation so still not sure which came with what. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

The plugs also power a small 12v tea pot!!!!!

SPW
Steve Wincze

Hi Peter

Here's the one from my TD.

Barry


B Bridgens

I guess it would be a case of finding an advert or catalogue from the right year showing the lamp.

Matthew.
M Magilton

G'day Barry. Nice bit of gear. Was it a factory option? Still pretty much in the dark with this :) Love to know more about how the model changed as it seems it harks back to the early thirties. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter,

I use the socket to connect the battery charger.

Jasper


JL Nederhoed TD3966

You can adapt some leads for your multimeter, and voila, voltmeter that can go from each of your cars.
mog

If you Google "Sirram Electric" I think that may be the brand of tea pot that would fit.

Kirk
Kirk Trigg

I just saw an inspection lamp for sale on e-bay the other day. Lucas, with the proper end plug.
....CR
C.R. Tyrell

Hi Peter

I don't know much about them, picked it up several years ago. I think it is period correct, I don't think it was a factory option.

Barry
B Bridgens

Tea, anyone? Bud


Bud Krueger

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/Lucas-Inspection-Trouble-Lamp-MG-TD-TF-Jaguar-XK120-140-150-Morgan-Land-Rover-/351276539564?pt=Vintage_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item51c9b69eac&vxp=mtr

Try copy and past this link for the accessory inspection lamp.
..CR
C.R. Tyrell

Peter,
There were a variety of aftermarket accessories that could plug into the socket.
I have collected a number of them over the years but seem unable to access the hard drive where most of the pictures are right now.

Like Bud I also have a 12v tea kettle, but quite different than his "classy model"! (I look for the file later if I get out to the garage)

Also have a window defogger that attaches with suction cups that plugs into it.

Note: The "plugs" on mine are incorrect. I have a TF and so do not have the dash ports as on the TD. I installed a socket on the TF but it is a modern audio banana type. I am an audio engineer by trade so I had lots of these in my parts inventory.

Here is a pic of 3 of the lights I have collected over the years.
Gold one is Lucas Trouble lamp w/ retractable cord
Silver Rayayot clamp on lamp
The Clear & Red lens one is a "parking lamp" ...my understanding is that at some point London required cars parked in town to have "parking lamps" on at night. This was sold for cars built before parking lights were standard equipment. (Lucas)



David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

To my knowledge the factory did not offer anything that plugged into the socket but as was pointed out, the socket allowed 3rd parties to offer a plethora of items that could be used.
Christopher Couper

Most common item is the suction cup mounted defroster. They are readily available. Bud
Bud Krueger

Thanks to all. As it was not a factory issued part I'll hold off on acquiring one. Worth including in your accessories section Chris? I've saved the pics so I'll now know what I'm looking at when I'm poking around at the next big swap meet. (Hawkesbury Showground 15 Feb). If I'm lucky it may well fit in the toolbox. As I now have the complete set of tools, except for the tiny Dunlop item, I'll see what else I can fit in there. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

I have one of the window defogger (demister) devices that suction-cups to the window. A couple of years ago I 'repurposed' it for my Miata's hardtop rear window, replacing the crumbling wiring with a new wire and cigarette-lighter plug. Works great!
Kevin McLemore

Peter: They are all in the accessory section but in various areas. For example see the Teapot picture above. It was taken by me in 1970 and its sitting on my windshield.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_accessories.htm

You also have to scan the advertisements page.

http://www.mg-cars.org.uk/mgtd/mgtd_advertisements.htm
Christopher Couper

Hi Chris. I checked out your site before posting. The only thing I could find in After Market & Dealer Add Ons: Subsections, Interior Accessories, Electrical & Gauges or Miscellaneous Items was your teapot. Though I'm partial to a cup of tea I do think it falls into the uncool accessories column :). Also opened all 119 ads in Advertisements & not a sausage! If you are able to collect some pics of the Lucas Inspection Lamp perhaps they could live in your Interior Accessories Section or if there is enough variation in those available maybe it warrants a section of its own? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Peter this is a Lucas I picked up on eBay several weeks ago


W. A. Chasser Jr

Thanks Bill. If you can possibly take a couple more shots I'll add them to my collection? Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

There were tens of thousands of these produced from '39 to '45 for lamps for British bombers...I was told. Regards, tom
tm peterson

They were also big with Land Rover owners.

Matthew.
M Magilton

Just bought this one. Not Lucas, I think, but still the right period. It is bomber olive green, so they might have forgotten to drop it over Germany ;-)

Mike




Mike Fritsch

Found it.........


David Sheward 55 TF1500 # 7427

Nice Kettle !!!
Mike
Mike Fritsch

Hey, I just won this one on ebay for $20... can't complain!


Geoffrey M Baker

That's $20 well spent. Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Nice score Geoffrey. Peter my computer is down and in operating via my phone. I will retrieve pics and send when I'm up and running again
W. A. Chasser Jr

Finally found where I put my inspection lamp. Could be a Pre War version (looks like it came out of the Ark LOL).

Matthew.


M Magilton

The globe is totally unprotected, so presumably it had to be fitted before use (in complete darkness LOL).
No makers stamp unfortunately.

Matthew.


M Magilton

Peter. As requested. Lucas mdl # 866


W. A. Chasser Jr

MM it appears you are missing the bulb protection cage. It looks like yours may be the same model as mine they apparently came in black and the bronze color I have look at the cup where the crank handle rests. Part # should be stamped there

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr.
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

MM it appears you are missing the bulb protection cage. It looks like yours may be the same model as mine they apparently came in black and the bronze color I have look at the cup where the crank handle rests. Part # should be stamped there

Cheers

Bill Chasser Jr.
TD4834
W. A. Chasser Jr

Thanks Bill. Classy pic! Cheers
Peter TD 5801
P Hehir

Bill, I think you are right, just missing the cage. I had a careful look for the part number but nothing found.

Cheers,
Matthew.
M Magilton

I too need a bulb protection cage. I have what appears to be NOS lucas lamp. cage is long gone.
If one is available please contact me.
Sandy
esane@msn.com
SANDY

FYI
There's a new old stock Lucas Inspection Lamp on Aus ebay in NSW at the moment - $155Au Buy It Now - 1965 model.
No affiliation.
Peter TC9356
Peter Malkin

Finally found an illustration. This was in "The Sports Car" June 1936. So now we know what the pre war model looked like.

Matthew.


M Magilton

This thread was discussed between 08/01/2015 and 29/01/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

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