This is an eighty year old LED (light emitting diode) light which my father used in his dark room. It only gives off enough light to see by the two plates which interact inside creating an electronic cloud (plasma). When lit it gives a pinkish glow. It is an early version of LED lights which are now common. (Frank King)
LED light
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around 1930
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Comments
It certainly is not an LED (light emitting diode) even though it has only two electrodes. It is most probably a neon lamp, a kind of gas discharge lamp. They are still used as indicators, they take very little current from a supply above 85V (the discharge voltage. For mains use (230V) current is limited by a resistance, perhaps 10^6 ohms. They have a very long service life, if the resistance in yours is still OK it should still work. They were often used as nightlights and produced a characteristic red/orange glow, both electrodes for AC one for DC. The discharge voltage of 85v permitted them to be used as voltage regulators. I could explain other uses such as early numeric displays....