What at first glance appears to be a strikingly intimate object, upon closer inspection turns out to be a special piece of history. A metal object turned up in the Parels & Prul thrift store in Dongen that was first mistaken for an antique vibrator. But after some detective work, employee Stijn Rompa thinks it is probably an old inspection lamp from the war.
“Until yesterday I really thought this was an antique vibrator,” says Stijn, laughing. “The object caught the attention of a colleague. He showed me that there was a button on it and told me that such things were used to calm people down in the past. Then I thought: I have to get this out of the store and take a closer look.”
Only when Stijn opened the object did his previous assumption prove to be incorrect. There appeared to be a small light inside. “At that moment I knew: this story is not correct. This is not a vibrator.”
Discreet light in the dark
According to Stijn, it is probably an inspection lamp that was used during the Second World War or in the period afterwards. The robust metal design and compact shape match this: “In the past, everything was bigger and heavier. You didn’t have small flashlights like now.”
What makes the object special is the way it spreads light. There is a narrow opening in the housing, through which only a narrow beam of light escapes. “For example, if you had to carry out maintenance on a tank or read a map, you could still see what you were doing with such a light, without the enemy immediately seeing you. The light remained very concentrated.”
Mystery remains
Stijn could find little information about this specific type of lamp. That makes it interesting for him. “The object is too rusty to still work, so testing is not possible. I have tried to put batteries in it, but nothing happens. That is why I am very curious whether people recognize this. Maybe it is unique, maybe others also have one lying around.”
Where the object comes from remains a mystery for now. “I always think that’s a shame. Someone deliberately brought this to the store, but you don’t know who or what the story behind it is.”
Remains in own collection
For the time being, Stijn will keep the find for himself. “Sometimes I have objects that I think: I want to keep this for myself.” The inspection lamp will therefore not be available in stores and will not receive a price tag. “I’m especially curious about what else will be known about it.”
Recycled pearl
In the Thrift Pearl section, we share a special object from a thrift store every Friday.
View all stories in the Kringloopparel series here.
