Mystery lead acid battery ?

[beam me up schottky]

The thread on a low voltage supply for battery sets sparked my memory of 2 small lead acid accumulators that I picked up years ago at a big house sale. The pictures pretty much show all there is to show, the dimensions are 4" wide, 1-11/16" high, 1-1/8" deep. They both have all their original MOD packaging but I have left one sealed, obviously as new and never filled. Just in case it's not readable the date is Jan 1954 !
I'm guessing it's a low voltage cell for some sort of RAF radio equipment but does anyone know exactly what ?

[Yorkie]

Given that 1954 was still a time of post-war austerity, and the RAF like every other sector of society and the miltary was cash-strapped (it was the year that food, clothing, as sweets etc came off ration), I can only asssume that the acculmulators would be for the heaters of ageing 2-volt battery valve gear such as portable commnucations radios. (They were styill using valves, albeit miniature B7G ones) well into the late 1960s for military gear. But apart from the parachute regiment, I'd have thought that portable batteery powered gear (rather than airborne) was more the province of the Army than the RAF. They do look in remarkably good condition, helped by not having had acid in them. Made by Oldham Batteries - remember the TV and press ads from years ago? - "I told 'em Oldham"!

David.

[Paula A]

My father had one of these in an emergency point to point communications set. About the size with batteries of 2 civilian gasmask cases. It came from a Lancaster and was part of the ditching kit.. introduced after 1948.. or so he said. "Emergency communications set for use in case of forced landing"

[beam me up schottky]

I was sort of assuming that but it would satisfy my curiosity to know exactly which set or sets. The long term storage packing that was still sealed has preserved them in as new condition. I will leave the other sealed for posterity. Hopefully some ex RAF type will spot the pix and say exactly what they were for.

[Paula A]

I think it wouldn't come from one specific set.. any 2v valve portable equipment would have used them. The RAF had rules of standardisation in components. One size fits all... so they could be from any piece of equipment that fits the bill... including temporary airfield nav beacons.

[AlanBeckett]

Made by Oldham Batteries - remember the TV and press ads from years ago? - "I told 'em Oldham"!
David.

David,
If I remember rightly you've missed a bit. It should be:-
'So I told 'em, Oldham, the battery with power to spare'.
Alan

[beam me up schottky]

My father had one of these in an emergency point to point communications set. About the size with batteries of 2 civilian gasmask cases. It came from a Lancaster and was part of the ditching kit.. introduced after 1948.. or so he said. "Emergency communications set for use in case of forced landing"

Thanks Paula !! You posted as I was posting !!