Monster Turbo Head, Circa late 70's, early 80's?

[angelofwar]

Picked this up at the local thrift store for $.99. It's a vintage Radio Shack flashlight...looks like the idea was to put a "lantern" sized head on a regular light. I got a 4-Cell White Star Xenon in there now, and it out-throws my SF KT1. I have a few other bulbs I wanna try in there, like my pelican 4 cell, 3 cell white star (overdriven), and a good led. Runs off of 4 C-Cells. There is no tail cap, so the bezel falls apart when you need to replace the batteries. Takes any P-Series Flanged bulbs. The reflector is 3-1/4" Diameter. Any other ideas from you "incanites" on improving this old school turbo-head? I was thinking of frosting the tip of the bulb to remove the blotches (any one ever try this), or frosting the reflector. I wanna try to frost the bulb first, so I don't ruin this classic.

Here it is vertically next to my G2/KT1

Here's a snap shot of the diamter of the bezel (from left G2, G2 w/ KT1, Radioshack "RS4CT")

Here's the last one trying to detail the "guts":

 

[nikon]

You should get a much nicer beam with a MAG-NUM STAR 4-cell bulb. If you use really hot bulbs be careful that you don't melt the reflector.

Does the yellow ON/OFF button slide or click?

That's a nice looking light. Could we get a large side view?

 

[angelofwar]

Wow. people still appreciate the oldies! My bad Nikon, it is the Mag-Num star (the white stars are the kryptons, if I;m not mistaken?). The switch is a sliding one, and the internals are much like a Fulton Anglehead.

Here's a side pic (next to my E1E for size comparison.. Has som ribbing built inot the casing.

 

[ampdude]

I wish I could find cool stuff like that! I like the old slide switches too, instead of all the push button crap now. If you frost the bulb, you'll lose some throw, which kind of might negate the point of that light. Since they're C cells, try a 3 cell krypton Mag bulb in there. The Magnum Star xenon bulbs are kind of optically funky (if that makes any sense), and the beams from them are generally a little harsh unless you get a really good focus. I like them though.

 

[angelofwar]

I wish I could find cool stuff like that! I like the old slide switches too, instead of all the push button crap now. If you frost the bulb, you'll lose some throw, which kind of might negate the point of that light. Since they're C cells, try a 3 cell krypton Mag bulb in there. The Magnum Star xenon bulbs are kind of optically funky (if that makes any sense), and the beams from them are generally a little harsh unless you get a really good focus. I like them though.

Roger that...yeah, I had forgotten about the over-driven 3 cell krypton. I used it once on a 6V lantern I had. I'm gonna check that out, and see if I get a better beam.

 

[Juggernaut]

Ultimate turbo head eya:naughty:? I love mismatched lights, here is my 10 D RayOvac sportsmen with all the extenders off and only the 3D section. It's head is over 4 ½ inches wide. The original reflector created an extremely pencil thin beam:thumbsup:, however after converting it to use sealed beam bulbs it throw even better:twothumbs. This set up does not work because I have yet to find a proper 12+ volt power source in the space of 3 D cells:sigh:, though it's funner when it's almost 3 feet long!


Next to the 4D maglite.

 

[Big_Ed]

I have one of these....somewhere. I got it in the mid 80's for free from Radio Shack. If I remember correctly, there were coupons in Radio Shack flyers offering these lights for free. I guess the idea was that you'd buy their batteries for the light while you were in the store. My parents have a much much older version that is gray with a red screw-on head. It has a metal slide switch. I think theirs is a 4D cell version. They've had it since the 1970's.