Minimoog
Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Messages
- 771
Surely there is no better time to be out with an incandescent torch than Halloween. LED's just don't cut it on this day I'm afraid.
When walking the cold Autumnal streets with glowing pumpkins in doorways and spooky decorations at the windows along with groups of happy children trick or treating lighting your way with a suitable torch is part of the scene. Mobile phone LED's have no place on all hallows eve.
So in the Halloween spirit I have restored two of the lights in my 'to do' area I felt most suited to the occasion. I did both in the last week - really went for it! These are below, but please do tell me what lights you have got planned to use for this time of year - I love to hear about them.
Ok, first light is a steampunk-y 1910 Ever Ready lantern - unusually has a rear handle for the ultimate electric lantern carry experience. Its made from mahogany and has a lensed front glass. It had languished in a broken state for at least 60 years. It needed in order to work:
Switch repair (bad contacts), reflector clean, new internal battery contacts (brass) and a good clean. 100+ years is A LOT of dust. It needed a bulb too but I was not satisfied with ANY I could find - all gave a ringy or holey beam so I made my own precision lamp using a 3D Mag Xenon bulb potted into a screw bulb cap. Works perfect as it does not have any support wires which give shadows and I centred it 100%. Driving it is 3X Eneloop Pro in a 3AA holder with high density foam insert which I cut with a craft knife. Will be great on the day as it gives a sparkly beam through the lens and looks good when carrying it from the rear - like a real old lantern with the shiny metal. The last photo shows my home made bulb fitted.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z9s2hvaazo9agif/DSC_1108.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/78tkpu2d1hadijx/DSC_1109.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/spknh5u3fwnb4dw/DSC_1111.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qqaft3eezxjhkka/DSC_1110.JPG?dl=0
Next is another Ever Ready - this time an a real old 'tube style' from the 1930's. This is what a warm and glowy Halloween torch is all about. Does not light up much but and is obviously a bit different - and spooky! This one had a rotted out spring and other damage so I:
Fitted new tailcap spring (bridged for better conductivity), cleaned out the inside, repaired the switch, polished the reflector and greased all moving parts - and fitted a 3 cell bulb driven by 3 Eneloops. The original 2.5 Volt bulbs are just too weak - only meant for quick flash - so when left on they burn out. The 3 cell bulbs are quite a bit tougher. It gives a nice retro beam - all yellow and never glaring.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0o0jc02nwe7lmp/DSC_1113.JPG?dl=0
I love restoring old lights - I try to do at least one a month but this month I have already done three (the other is a Concordia miners torch) which is solid copper - upgraded to 6 Watt halogen and of course the other needed repairs and service.
So these are mine - lets see what you are getting ready!
When walking the cold Autumnal streets with glowing pumpkins in doorways and spooky decorations at the windows along with groups of happy children trick or treating lighting your way with a suitable torch is part of the scene. Mobile phone LED's have no place on all hallows eve.
So in the Halloween spirit I have restored two of the lights in my 'to do' area I felt most suited to the occasion. I did both in the last week - really went for it! These are below, but please do tell me what lights you have got planned to use for this time of year - I love to hear about them.
Ok, first light is a steampunk-y 1910 Ever Ready lantern - unusually has a rear handle for the ultimate electric lantern carry experience. Its made from mahogany and has a lensed front glass. It had languished in a broken state for at least 60 years. It needed in order to work:
Switch repair (bad contacts), reflector clean, new internal battery contacts (brass) and a good clean. 100+ years is A LOT of dust. It needed a bulb too but I was not satisfied with ANY I could find - all gave a ringy or holey beam so I made my own precision lamp using a 3D Mag Xenon bulb potted into a screw bulb cap. Works perfect as it does not have any support wires which give shadows and I centred it 100%. Driving it is 3X Eneloop Pro in a 3AA holder with high density foam insert which I cut with a craft knife. Will be great on the day as it gives a sparkly beam through the lens and looks good when carrying it from the rear - like a real old lantern with the shiny metal. The last photo shows my home made bulb fitted.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/z9s2hvaazo9agif/DSC_1108.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/78tkpu2d1hadijx/DSC_1109.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/spknh5u3fwnb4dw/DSC_1111.JPG?dl=0
https://www.dropbox.com/s/qqaft3eezxjhkka/DSC_1110.JPG?dl=0
Next is another Ever Ready - this time an a real old 'tube style' from the 1930's. This is what a warm and glowy Halloween torch is all about. Does not light up much but and is obviously a bit different - and spooky! This one had a rotted out spring and other damage so I:
Fitted new tailcap spring (bridged for better conductivity), cleaned out the inside, repaired the switch, polished the reflector and greased all moving parts - and fitted a 3 cell bulb driven by 3 Eneloops. The original 2.5 Volt bulbs are just too weak - only meant for quick flash - so when left on they burn out. The 3 cell bulbs are quite a bit tougher. It gives a nice retro beam - all yellow and never glaring.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/k0o0jc02nwe7lmp/DSC_1113.JPG?dl=0
I love restoring old lights - I try to do at least one a month but this month I have already done three (the other is a Concordia miners torch) which is solid copper - upgraded to 6 Watt halogen and of course the other needed repairs and service.
So these are mine - lets see what you are getting ready!