EGLOFF & CIE

HELVETIA LUFTSCHUTZ - ARMATURE

This very special and museum quality lantern is the crowning glory of my collection. Since owning my first Swiss Army Helvetia, I became aware of this style lantern which is in the Swiss Army Museum (SAM). To say it is rare is a gross understatement. The lantern was located in Bad Ragz, Switzerland and with great effort and the enormous help of a contact, I was able to purchase it for my collection.

The dimming hood is for Air raid Protection (basically a black out lantern). The function of the shade is against spotting light on the ground from planes.  The protection cage was patented in 1937 in the Switzerland. Here is the translation of the text on the hood:

 Helvetia

Luftschutz-Armatur = Air Protection Armature

PAT. ANG.

Min. Aufhangehohe 1m = Suspension Height 1m

There was an epoxy or chemical spill on the front of the lantern. I decided to carefully remove it and then I matched the paint for that area. The lantern has 99.5% of it's original paint as it was very important to leave the lantern as you see. The burner is marked with Egloff & Cie's trademark as are my other Helvetia lanterns.You'll notice the two loops on the top of the lantern. Those are for the hood to attach to so that you can pick up the lantern and the hood stays in place. Inside the hood (see photo) are the side cage brackets that slide down onto the air tubes.

On the mechanical lift, it is marked with either a 'J' or  'P'. I do not know at this time what that means.  Possibly a military marking for the part.  The swiss cross with a 'T' in the middle is stamped on the bottom of the fuel tank.

The globe is a beautiful deep cobalt blue globe which is etched with (I believe) the Indifferent-Resistant logo which is associated with Egloff & Cie.

***THIS IS THE TRANSLATION OF THE 'S.A.M' DOCUMENT IN PHOTO NUMBER #1 IN THE GALLERY - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE IN TEXT ON THE DIMMING HOOD*** MY LANTERN IS NOT THE LANTERN IN THE 'S.A.M.' DOCUMENT; JUST SAME STYLE***

Kein Schutzgitter : NO PROTECTIVE GRID

Blaues Glas: BLUE GLASS

Durchmesser Vom Verdunkelungsteil 280mm: Diameter of the dimming part 280mm

um 1942: Around 1942

Zubehör: Kein   :  Accessories: NONE

Farbe: Schwarz:   COLOR: BLACK

Maximale Hohe (Bügel Umgelegt) 500mm: Maximum height (strap folded) 500mm

Einsatz: Luftschutztruppen: Use: air raid troops

BESCHREIBUNG: Tragegriff Ringförmig Umlegbar. Gelenk-Hebevorrichtung: DESCRIPTION: Carrying handle, ring-shaped, Foldable.  Joint-lifting device

Eingang in Sammlung: Entrance in summation

CIRCA: 1937 - 1942