Rik. None of the civilian catalogue pictures show the MT1130 lamp for the 1939 models. But the 1939 models WD M20's and WD C10's did have them. It's my guess that they were only used on military models for 39 for some reason. The lamp was already in existence as Ariel were using them from 38 or 39. Ron
Thanks Ron. Now that you mention it, I see that the MT1130 goes back even to some with '38' census numbers. It was certainly a very stylish lamp but I can't imagine that impressed the Department of Army Contracts. Was it less vulnerable thanks to the central location or was it in fact cheaper to buy-in ? It lacks the major plus point (in my opinion) of the MT110 - the rubber anti-vibration mounting.
And there is a slight chance that he was not asleep at the time but simply caught in a blink, Remember close your eyes, now open them & say cheese.
The photographer would not have known the eyes were closed till the film ( or plate ) was developed.
