As far as flashlights go, my earliest acquaintances, many years ago, were of what was perhaps considered the cadillacs of (home use) flashlights. They were made from a sheet metal, probably brass, chrome plated and pleated along the sides. They were made by Eveready, I think. They had a three way switch, with the middle position permitting you to use the push-button momentary switch.
At that time the switches pushed a sliding metal contact up against the housing of the bulb holder, completing the circuit. I can remember as a small child seeing my father work on the flashlights, trying to bend the contacts just right in order to get the flashlights working properly. If it was bent to far it wouldn't shut off, and if not far enough it wouldn't turn on. It seemed to be a common problem with the lights, since it seemed when visiting relatives or friends, he'd be called on to adjust the switch contacts for those we were visiting. The thin sheet metal from which the flashlights were made didn't have the most efficient threads for screwing or holding the tops or tailcaps. The strong spring would cause the end caps to pop off if the flashlight should receive a heavy jar or bump. If the light was dropped or banged into something, dents were made. A dent under the tailcap or under the head would often bend the body beyond functionality, since you could no longer remove or replace the top or tailcap.
Flashlight batteries at that time came in one flavor, carbon-zinc. The construction of the battery didn't provide near enough protection against leakage, and many a flashlight was ruined when the infrequently used light sit for ages with leaking batteries. It wasn't unusual to find discarded flashlights that couldn't even be opened because the parts were fused together by the corrosion.
A kid with twenty-five cents a week allowance couldn't afford the batteries for such a fine light, so I settled for a 1 cell AA light, I think it was made by Eveready, or perhaps called a Tom Thumb. It used a screw in type base, and the bulb had a thick piece at the top that magnified the beam. The switch used the same method of pushing a long contact up against the base of the bulb. I probably ruined as many of them as I improved by trying to bend the contacts just right. A carbon-zinc AA battery didn't last long to a kid that used his flashlight every night; so many a night would pass without a light while I waited on Saturday and my next twenty-five cent allowance.
I was in Sears yesterday and passed by a small display of cheap flashlights for $2.99 each. I was immediately attracted, since they were a nostalgic sort of item, built to look just like the old sheet metal, three position switch flashlight like my father had. Looking it over, it appeared to have the same faults, along with the same appeal. I bought two. Installing the batteries after going home, and noting the focus was near perfect, I replaced the bulb with a RS xenon. Now, if I can find a quality lens to put in it, maybe the bulb won't burn a hole in the lens. Now, my three dollar flashlight outshines a 2 D cell Mag, and it's got a heck of a lot more character. In the other flashlight, I put a Versalux 3 volt LED. The heavy alkaline batteries rattled inside excessively, so I slid a folded piece of a toilet paper core alongside the batteries. The Versalux LED is exceptional, and I probably shouldn't have to concern myself with the batteries for about a year. So, next New Years, I'll make sure I haven't forgot my old acquaintance.
I couldn't have been more pleased if they had been selling Surefires for $2.99.
At that time the switches pushed a sliding metal contact up against the housing of the bulb holder, completing the circuit. I can remember as a small child seeing my father work on the flashlights, trying to bend the contacts just right in order to get the flashlights working properly. If it was bent to far it wouldn't shut off, and if not far enough it wouldn't turn on. It seemed to be a common problem with the lights, since it seemed when visiting relatives or friends, he'd be called on to adjust the switch contacts for those we were visiting. The thin sheet metal from which the flashlights were made didn't have the most efficient threads for screwing or holding the tops or tailcaps. The strong spring would cause the end caps to pop off if the flashlight should receive a heavy jar or bump. If the light was dropped or banged into something, dents were made. A dent under the tailcap or under the head would often bend the body beyond functionality, since you could no longer remove or replace the top or tailcap.
Flashlight batteries at that time came in one flavor, carbon-zinc. The construction of the battery didn't provide near enough protection against leakage, and many a flashlight was ruined when the infrequently used light sit for ages with leaking batteries. It wasn't unusual to find discarded flashlights that couldn't even be opened because the parts were fused together by the corrosion.
A kid with twenty-five cents a week allowance couldn't afford the batteries for such a fine light, so I settled for a 1 cell AA light, I think it was made by Eveready, or perhaps called a Tom Thumb. It used a screw in type base, and the bulb had a thick piece at the top that magnified the beam. The switch used the same method of pushing a long contact up against the base of the bulb. I probably ruined as many of them as I improved by trying to bend the contacts just right. A carbon-zinc AA battery didn't last long to a kid that used his flashlight every night; so many a night would pass without a light while I waited on Saturday and my next twenty-five cent allowance.
I was in Sears yesterday and passed by a small display of cheap flashlights for $2.99 each. I was immediately attracted, since they were a nostalgic sort of item, built to look just like the old sheet metal, three position switch flashlight like my father had. Looking it over, it appeared to have the same faults, along with the same appeal. I bought two. Installing the batteries after going home, and noting the focus was near perfect, I replaced the bulb with a RS xenon. Now, if I can find a quality lens to put in it, maybe the bulb won't burn a hole in the lens. Now, my three dollar flashlight outshines a 2 D cell Mag, and it's got a heck of a lot more character. In the other flashlight, I put a Versalux 3 volt LED. The heavy alkaline batteries rattled inside excessively, so I slid a folded piece of a toilet paper core alongside the batteries. The Versalux LED is exceptional, and I probably shouldn't have to concern myself with the batteries for about a year. So, next New Years, I'll make sure I haven't forgot my old acquaintance.
I couldn't have been more pleased if they had been selling Surefires for $2.99.
