A 1970s Soviet flashlight gets a remake!

[whiteshepherd]

These hand crank flashlights were originally created in Germany during WWII. After the war Russia reproduced them for their troop companies as dry goods like batteries were in short supply. In the 1970s and 1980s the Soviet Union started selling a version of these lights in the west dubbed the "Forever Flashlight". Here I have taken a 1970s Forever Flashlight apart. Removing the incandescent bulb. I put in it's a place a low voltage drop bridge rectifier (turns the dynamo AC into DC). Then I added a LED with driver, and supercapacitor to store power. This created a hand crank flashlight that with a short cranking gives 4 minutes of good light! Later a updated the design to a brighter bulb, and drilled a hole in the top of the flashlight. In the hole I put a red indicator LED that flashes when the capacitor is full. Hope you all enjoy and share your thoughts!

PS: The phone I had at the time did not filter color well.

 

[sgt253]

Wow! That's really cool!

 

[Henk4U2]

In the Netherlands we call this type of light a "knijpkat" (litt. squeeze cat). Don't ask me why.

 

[alpg88]

In Russia there are called a bug. Probably has to do with sound it makes when working, it does remind of a buzzing of a bug, somewhat.
They used to be common in USSR, batteries were not always available everywhere. if you are in a big city, you could find some, but if you are in a country, good luck.

 

[whiteshepherd]

In Russia there are called a bug. Probably has to do with sound it makes when working, it does remind of a buzzing of a bug, somewhat.
They used to be common in USSR, batteries were not always available everywhere. if you are in a big city, you could find some, but if you are in a country, good luck.

That's what I heard. Their "whirring" sound of the dynamo is very notable while making light. Though adding the super capacitor and an efficient light makes a few squeezes go a long way. The fact the flashlight is fairly durable makes this a top flashlight when upgraded IMO.

 

[Monocrom]

In Russia there are called a bug. Probably has to do with sound it makes when working, it does remind of a buzzing of a bug, somewhat.
They used to be common in USSR, batteries were not always available everywhere. if you are in a big city, you could find some, but if you are in a country, good luck.

Heck, unless you were a soldier in the Soviet Army, you could expect shortages of pretty much everything!

During WWII, some Soviet units even had shortages of rifles.