I also like to have a brake/stop light fitted.
I VERY much agree with this.
Almost entirely the reason for this exercise.
From previous experience, batteries can go for months without needing a recharge if this is their sole purpose in life.
With led varieties, the voltage can go even lower before they cease to show a brake light.
I smiled at the 4.5v battery chatter. They can be sheer frustration. I don’t know exactly when they went off the market and I have mucked around making them up from two ‘D’ cells but eventually I got fed up and stopped bothering. I don’t know how many hours light they originally gave but wangling a replacement in and out of that headlight clip every month or so would drive me nuts.
This thought had crossed my mind.
From the totally pristine battery carrier, I suspect the original battery was removed and never replaced. ?
I looked into these batteries, and they are still available.
https://au.rs-online.com/web/p/speciality-size-batteries/7904697Just powering it off the small 6v battery, with suitable bulb, would be simpler.