Old military object

[CoolFrayers]

Hello. My wifes Grandfather passed away recently, he was a WWII vet and has a ton of stuff. This object that he had has us stumped. It takes 2 size D batteries and the two tubes on it have a clear plastic in them. So when it is turned on, the light travels through the tubes like fiber optics. It looks like it clamps on to something to light up two parts for vision purposes at night; but what does it attatch to?
Any ideas? Feel free to email us:[email protected].

Sorry for the fuzzy pictures, the camera was a Christmas present which was replaced after taking the pics, hehe.

 

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[Gypsy Heart]

gypsyheart, you are not a dope. I mean, now since you dug it out you might as well make good use of it- aim it towards your neighbors windows at night :P

Seriously, thank you for taking the time to look, I really appreciate it.

My neighbor is 82..... .....

 

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[Jagdpanther]

It has a back battery pack that weighs more than I do...geez those guys were tough....

That is a AN/PVS-2 Starlight Scope. SWEET!

 

[diggummup]

I have to drive down by my In-Laws tomorrow, ( oh yay...sigh, lol)
So, I will take down my good camera to get some good shots. I will also write down any and all information on the booger. The quest is not over yet!

We'll be waiting for some more pics.Don't forget any serial numbers and such. 8) Nice scope Gypsy,too bad about the neighbor!

 

[wolfpaw518]

hmmmm... I agree it's made to illuminate something specific...

What did grampa do in the Army?

Where was he stationed?

Anything about it in any personal letters to grandma?

The thing is big and bulky for it's purpose, indicative of WW-II...

It's O.D. Green, so I'm quite sure it's U.S. [other countries used a different shades of green]

I don't think it's for night vision...used for night ops, yea.

"looks" like it clamps onto a weapon system, Arty, Flak...one of the small bazookas, maybe.. I would say no to Armor (tanks), vehicles or aircraft.


Well...just a thought...
neil

 

[Monty]

Ok, I think it is a bracket to hold a fire extinguisher. Obviously something is held by the round clamp on the whatsit. Monty

 

[Gypsy Heart]

It has a back battery pack that weighs more than I do...geez those guys were tough....

Gypsy, I Believe That Night Vision Was Not In Use Before Viet Nam, At Least That Was When I Became Aware Of It, Although I Never Got To Use It, I Was Just A Grunt, But Our Snipers & Special Forces Had Them. trk5capt...

I dont know...I think they had it ...or were trying to perfect it at least in the 1940's ....Snipers etc....I know my Grandfather was in WW11 and he talked about it....My neighbor was in it too...I am going to talk to him later today

 

[CoolFrayers]

OK, I have more pictures. The main serial number under where it says Light Instrument is B172577
It also has two other numbers on it that I believe are parts numbers:C78842 and D78142. These are on two seperate pieces on it, so I believe that they are part numbers.
I think it might be artillary, he was a ground solider. I would just like to find out what it was truly used for.

 

[wolfpaw518]

Night Vision WAS used by the Germans. The first unit was the 17th SS equipped with big bulky units, they trained in central France for about a year as a special night fighting force. When D-Day happened they were one of the first units rushed in to stop the invasion...but as regular infantry, they were all but wiped out, thus ended any "mass" use of German night vision. I'm not familiar with U.S. in this field.

[as I remember it...]
neil

 

[mech]

what does it say after CONMAR PRODUCTS.. W

 

[Monty]

Okay, so I am only about .0043 % correct! If there is a God won't he at least let me make one right guess? They're sending me back to the minor leagues for 2007! Monty

 

[PBK]

I believe that should be read as "Instrument Light," an ilumination device attached to artillery sighting equipment. Here is a WWII M2 Instrument Light, designed for use with an M1 Aiming Circle:

 

[Ant]

In the Military supply system items are identified by the noun name first. If you look closely you can see the comma behind, Light (Light, Instrument). You might find a flashlight listed as, (Light, Handheld).

The part number on that item is, B172577. The other numbers might be casting numbers or something.
If it you can’t get an exact ID, I’ll see what I can do Wednesday when I get back to work.

 

[diggummup]

I've emailed an expert for the specifics on this instrument light.We'll find out exactly what piece of artillery it was attached to. I'm thinking mortars now.

 

[TheSleeper]

I did a search for conmar products and/or B172577 and only came up with some info bout a court case pertaining to patient infringement i think it was.

PBK, think they used the same light on many different types of equip with just adding new mounts and lite tubes.

 

[PBK]

PBK, think they used the same light on many different types of equip with just adding new mounts and lite tubes.

Good point, Sleeper. Based on other hits I got on this item, I'd say you're right.

 

[Ant]

It's a Light, Instrument, Illuminator. It was designed so that the enemy couldn’t see the light when use at night, it will only illuminate a small area. It would be used to illuminate an instrument panel, sight, gage, or something like that. Like I said, when I get back to work I'll find out exactly what it was on.

 

[CoolFrayers]

Thank you so much Ant!
I thought that it must be for illuminating a certain item at night. The light level is so low, it had to be to insure the person would not be detected. The light that comes out of the tubes is so low that the tubes had to be right on whatever he was adjusting.
I really appreciate this. My Mother-in-law might actually like me after this, lol.

 

[diggummup]

Hence the term "instrument light".

 

[Rmeav8r]

Most likely part of the 81mm light mortar. Very similar to an early device used to illuminate the Elevating and Traversing Mechanisms on the 81mm Light Mortar used by U.S. Army and USMC.

 

[TreasureTales]

....My Mother-in-law might actually like me after this, lol.

Don't count on it. (j/k)