Who remembers the Tenka-Lite 2?

[Mr Bigglow]

Came across what is probably the second oldest working flashlight in my possession the other day, my dim but trusty old Tenka-Lite 2, I probably bought it around 1980. Incandescent bulb, 2 AA batteries, they were so dim as to be nearly useless by today's standards but a big advance over all previous flashlights because it was in an nearly indestructible shell and almost entirely waterproof, might even have made a diving light. The one I found still works, in fact the AAs in it are Kirkland alkalines dated '01-2002' so are themselves a bit of a miracle survival, I mean the things were better made then but still should have leaked badly enough to destroy the flashlight and even cracked it open.

Tenka-Lite 2s were much appreciated by backpackers and other wilderness travellers, nowadays it's hard to think of a use for one because of the low output. I see that to give it some reach, I installed what I recall was designated a 222 bulb, had a little magnifying tip in them to create a spotlight effect. But anyway, whatever I do with it I guess I'd better take the old batteries out of it....

These lights are so old they predate the internet and this is the only photo I could find of one. Mine has a completely transparent head, producing a lot of side glow, another problem.

 

[bykfixer]

Tekna is still around. They are Tek-Tite now.

 

[bigburly912]

I had one that had some kind of a clear plastic head on the end. Been a long time. I'll see if I can find it

 

[louie]

Mine is right here on the shelf, in the collection of obsolete lights I don't use anymore. The head is the traditional black plastic around the clear lens/inner shell. It was nice in its day as it was completely water and corrosion proof. But, yeah, the output is pathetic today.

 

[sgt253]

I have one myself. Tekna Micro Lite. Takes two (2) N size batteries. Switched incandescent bulb to led. Pretty good little output for what it is. i enjoy the nostalgia as well.

 

[letschat7]

I wish more N lights were being made.

 

[Monocrom]

I wish more N lights were being made.

Me too.
Can't seem to track down a Peak N-cell with the keyring attachment on the other end. Been looking for a very long while too.

 

[letschat7]

Peak made that?

 

[Monocrom]

Yup. Peak is a bit odd. It's one of those companies that has their own machine shop. They literally make their flashlights themselves. Don't sub-contract out the work. But for them, it's a side business to bring in a bit of extra profit from their main business. Which of course will get priority over making flashlights. It's been long discontinued. I once found a brass, single N-cell model. But it had the flat top instead of the hole for a keyring.

 

[gunga]

I had one. It was interesting if awkward, dim, the head got a bit sticky after a while (better lube would help) but mine is long gone. I do have a minimag from 1988 though...

 

[louie]

I wish there were alternatives to alkaline N cells. My HP 41CX calculator uses them, and I hate putting alkaline cells into anything nowadays.

 

[Monocrom]

I had one. It was interesting if awkward, dim, the head got a bit sticky after a while (better lube would help) but mine is long gone. I do have a minimag from 1988 though...

So do I. Not quite the same though. 😉

 

[bykfixer]

I think I read somewhere those were backup lights for cops before SureFire days. Their "splashlite for example. Tekna had a 6 volt number too.

The original used a proprietory cell that was basically 2 N cells, hence nowadays using 2 N cells instead of the Tekna (now Tek-Tite) battery.

 

[letschat7]

There are N cells that are rechargable although expect them to be ultra low quality.