Name/Title
East Sussex Constabulary "Forster" electric battery lamp 1959 -1967Entry/Object ID
62Description
Pressed metal black painted electric dry cell police lamp, with twin handles and belt clip on rear and fitted with green and red light filters for traffic control. There is a plate on the front marked with a "Queen's" crown version of the East Sussex Constabulary badge and the number "42". Also marked "FORSTER EQUIPMENT CO. LTD" WHETSTONE LEICS".Use
For a police officer to use at night for illumination and to assist with traffic control.Context
In the 19th and early 20th centuries police officers still used oil lamps for night duty, which were hung on their belts. These were both messy and expensive to maintain but were more reliable and cheaper than the first battery powered torches invented c 1899. However after the First World War technology had improved and electric lamps began to be adopted by police forces. The Metropolitan Police began using them in 1920 (Fido and Skinner) and East Sussex Constabulary in 1921 (Kyrke 1969).
What is interesting about the designs of these early battery lamps and those used later, is that they often retained features of the old oil lamps, usually having handles at the rear and a clip to enable the lamp to be hung on a belt. They also tend to be box shaped. It was only in 1962 that the Metropolitan Police adopted cylindrical torches (Fido and Skinner).
This particular lamp made by "Forster", is a common type but relatively late, often marketed as 'The Traffic Guardian". The use of the "Queen's" crown East Sussex Constabulary badge dates it from 1952 to 1967. However Companies' House records show that the "Forster Equipment Company" was only incorporated as a limited company in June 1959. This would suggest that this lamp dates from 1959 until 1967 after which East Sussex Constabulary was merged with the other Sussex Police Forces.