It was 1980 and I was preparing for a 3 month bicycle/camping trip across Europe. An essential part of my kit would be a flashlight.
Though the pickin's then were nothing like they are now, the needs were the same: small, light weight, bright, long running, ultra reliable, weatherproof, and very rugged. The mini-mag would not come out for four more years and Tony's then state-of-the-art 2 cell lights were large, heavy, and not water PROOF.
As this was well before Mr. Gore invented the Internet, flashlight research amounted to me pedaling my ten speed to every army/navy, hardware, and camping store I could reach. Their shelves had the same old large, dim, crappy, and tired 2-D's I had grown up with. It was probably at a camping store that I ran across something different: the PeliLite Submersible. Recent research revealed this was the first year of its production.
Its quality and simplicity struck me, as did its size, relatively high output, and promise of long run time. I don't remember what I paid for it, but I'm sure it felt like way too much. As it would be my ONLY light, I said "what the heck".
That light bounced around in my handlebar pack for three months and well over 2000 miles. It went on every subsequent hike and it was my only flashlight for perhaps ten years. I can't count the number of meals it helped prepare, the maps it read, the diary entries it facilitated, the late night PPs it navigated, the fuse boxes it explored, and the bumps in the night it illuminated. It was dropped and dunked and rained on too often to recall.
It was lost in a move about 1990 but miraculously reappeared just this week, stuffed in some ancient gear in the attic. Two fresh Duracell C's later, and it worked like the day I bought it! There is no hint of rust in its high-quality Spartan innards and even its o-ring is in great shape. Of course the case bears the marks of a well-used tool, what CPFers might call "patina" !
Here is a pic and a beam-shot of my old friend. Not exactly artifact-free, is it? Makes you realize just how far we've come.
W.
PeliLite Submersible c1980...
Beam shot...
Though the pickin's then were nothing like they are now, the needs were the same: small, light weight, bright, long running, ultra reliable, weatherproof, and very rugged. The mini-mag would not come out for four more years and Tony's then state-of-the-art 2 cell lights were large, heavy, and not water PROOF.
As this was well before Mr. Gore invented the Internet, flashlight research amounted to me pedaling my ten speed to every army/navy, hardware, and camping store I could reach. Their shelves had the same old large, dim, crappy, and tired 2-D's I had grown up with. It was probably at a camping store that I ran across something different: the PeliLite Submersible. Recent research revealed this was the first year of its production.
Its quality and simplicity struck me, as did its size, relatively high output, and promise of long run time. I don't remember what I paid for it, but I'm sure it felt like way too much. As it would be my ONLY light, I said "what the heck".
That light bounced around in my handlebar pack for three months and well over 2000 miles. It went on every subsequent hike and it was my only flashlight for perhaps ten years. I can't count the number of meals it helped prepare, the maps it read, the diary entries it facilitated, the late night PPs it navigated, the fuse boxes it explored, and the bumps in the night it illuminated. It was dropped and dunked and rained on too often to recall.
It was lost in a move about 1990 but miraculously reappeared just this week, stuffed in some ancient gear in the attic. Two fresh Duracell C's later, and it worked like the day I bought it! There is no hint of rust in its high-quality Spartan innards and even its o-ring is in great shape. Of course the case bears the marks of a well-used tool, what CPFers might call "patina" !
Here is a pic and a beam-shot of my old friend. Not exactly artifact-free, is it? Makes you realize just how far we've come.
W.
PeliLite Submersible c1980...
Beam shot...
It still works great.
