Every Sunday evening in winter, this item’s user and his brother sat by this lamp for a timed ‘sunbath’ to improve their general health, wearing only their underpants and tinted goggles. The time was increased each week in accordance with the manufacturer’s advice. ‘The smell of ozone was something I distinctly remember, along with Sunday Night at the London Palladium on the television afterwards!’ The lamp has options for ultraviolet (UV) or infrared light (IR) light.

Infrared rays are the heat we feel when we are outside in the sunshine. Infrared was used to speed the healing of injuries, based on the idea that increased blood flow would help flush out toxins. General aches and pains were also treated with heat. Ultraviolet light was always a combination of infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet light, produced by carbon rods.

Vitamin D is known as the 'sunshine' vitamin as sunlight triggers vitamin D production in our skin. In darker months, with less daylight hours, vitamin D production is supported by diet, such as oily fish, and by supplements and in the past home lamps like these. Photo or heliotherapy were most used to treat rickets, a childhood bone deficiency of vitamin D, forms of skin tuberculosis and malnourishment. However, googles were needed to protect the eyes and care had to be taken not to burn the skin.