ABL Signal Lantern

The Belgian military signal lamp (also known as the post-war ABL signal lantern) is a signal lamp from the 1950s and 1960s. This robust, olive drab metal lantern was used by the Belgian Army (specifically the Military Police) for convoy traffic control, tactical signaling, and night-time road marking.

Design & Operation

• The Burner: Behind the rear door is a removable brass or copper oil/kerosene burner. This is equipped with a small glass chimney and a flat cotton wick.
• The Shutters: The lantern features glass windows on its three visible sides. Each window is equipped with a metal shutter (blackout blind). By sliding these up or down, the soldier could manually determine which light beam was visible or completely black out the lamp for light discipline.
• Colored Filters: The windows contain colored glass panes. The standard military configuration usually consists of one green lens and two orange/red lenses. Some variants (used for specific railway or road sign tasks) feature inserts with a glass arrow.
• Mounting: A sturdy carrying handle is attached to the top, and a metal clip/bracket is located on the back to hang the lamp from a pistol belt, vehicle, or wooden post.