Should Old Acquaintances Be Forgotten

Empath

Flashaholic
Joined
Nov 11, 2001
Messages
8,508
Location
Oregon
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.
 
You know... it seems many of thhe flashjlights I had when I was a kids also used those "prefocused" lamps, probably the venerable #222 screw base.

I still have a cheap tin 2-C flashlight that uses a screw base lamp with a round (globe shaped) envelope. It even has the original glass lens.
I never use it because I know if I ever pop the bulb I'll have a devil of a time finding an exact replacement for it.

It wasn't all that many years ago you could go into a hardware store, and see a paper countertop display full of glass flashlight lenses in it for something like $0.10 apiece. The flare said something like "Break your flashlight lens? Replace it today!" or some such hooey.
Such a thing now is nothing more than history; for if you really break a glass flashlight lens, good luck finding another.
frown.gif


That tin flashlight is kept now only as a piece of nostalgia, much like all the damn telephone insulators I have glowing in the windows.
smile.gif


I also have a *very old* flashlight, probably built 50 to 60 years before I was even born. F0und it at a flea market for $2 but it's in pretty poor shape. Has all the parts (including the bulb) but the "paperboard" barrel is partially disintegrated - the poor thing probably got caught in a flood sometime during its life.

If there's one flashlight I wish I still had, it would be the Eveready sealed beam lantern I had when I was a kid. It had a huge sealed beam spotlight on the front, and a blinking red light on the back; and it ran off a very big 6-volt rectangular fencer battery.

That is one acquaintance I shall never, ever forget. If I didn't know any other boys back then , that flashlight would have been my very best friend. Fortunately though, I knew an electronics nut named Richard Garrison, who spared me from a life of crime and total incandescence. :p
 
<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by telephony:

If there's one flashlight I wish I still had, it would be the Eveready sealed beam lantern I had when I was a kid. It had a huge sealed beam spotlight on the front, and a blinking red light on the back; and it ran off a very big 6-volt rectangular fencer battery.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Mr. Telephony, I believe there's one of those (with no battery) in one of my tool rooms.-I'll look tonite..-Quite possibly a donation potential here
tongue.gif

It ain't exactly a Light Cannon though!
grin.gif
 
What a Wonderful Thread ! ! !

:thumbsup:


Just stumbled upon this little Gem,
and i truly enjoyed reading about "the way we were".

Thank you to Empath and Craig, for this nostalgic trip down Memory Lane !

Been a Flashaholic for 50 Years now, and can certainly relate to everything here.
:wave:

Still have our trusty old Eveready Big Jim 6-volt Lantern, too.
Sitting in the garage -- no longer used.
But i STILL like to "price" the battery for it, when i go to Menards.
Last i saw was something like 22 Dollars ! ! !
:eek:

BTW, we bought our Big Jim in perhaps 1968.
Being the cautious and conservative person that i am,
i also insisted on purchasing a Replacement Lamp (sealed beam Westinghouse)
at the same time.

Didn't wanna' get caught without a Spare !


Well, believe it or not . . . .

The original Sealed-Beam Lamp has NEVER burned out ! ! !

And (trust me), it has had LOTS and LOTS and LOTS of use and Abuse !

Yet, it never failed.

They sure hit a Home-Run with that one, eh ?


Thanks for all the great memories, Big Jim !


lovecpf
_
 
This is the oldest thread revival I've ever seen! I was just reading one from back in 06 and thought it was "old".
 
I have an Eveready flashlight just like you describe. I've had it since I was a Boy Scout. It's a 2D cell chrome light with ribs and a few dents. I still use it when looking for stuff in the garage. Original in every way, but the batteries have been replaced every few years. My newer acquaintances are brighter, but this one is in the right place! Who are you calling old? lol
 
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