World's most powerful

tadbik

Enlightened
Joined
Oct 22, 2003
Messages
308
Location
Israel
Came across this ad. from a 1957 edition of Guns magazine. WOW! I'd buy one!

hibredrx4.jpg

Here's the text of the ad. (more or less)

New "Hi-Bred" 80,000 Candlepower flashlight

SEALED BEAM.
Uses 2 gasses to control heat. Spec. designed filament. Bullseye spot.

DIAMOND FACET REFLECTOR
`Unique design, reflects from many angles, not smooth, Better than pure silver. Die casting, not stamping.

25 CELL POWER
Light equal to 5 old time big lights. Used in forest towers & host signaling, easily seen 15 miles or more. Worlds most powerful by far.

MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE
Spot prowlers from bedside, see for blocks. If war comes may
be only light source to safety. Keep by bedside, take in car when traveling.

WITH NEW "RAY CONDENSER"
New shield bounces lost rays back ino beam, shields eyes. Exclusive never
before utilised.

HIGH VOLTAGE - GIANT HEAD WORLD'S BIGGEST
Uses more volts, less ampere drain. Bigger head captures more rays.
Batteries last much longer yet world's most powerful flashlight by far.

Price for 7 cell Deluxe. $6.99
 

Ra

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jul 15, 2004
Messages
1,003
Location
The Netherlands
Whhoww,

80,000 candlepower!!! It's a pitty I cannot afford it... too expensive.

Good chance that a few grandfather-flashaholic's still have this torch around somewhere.


Regards,

Ra.
 

woodrow

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Feb 7, 2006
Messages
2,027
Location
New Mexico
I guess life really was good in the 50's. I wonder if the lights 40 years from now will really make us laugh at out Fenix P3D's and Surefire M6's...:thinking:
 

lctorana

Flashlight Enthusiast
Joined
Jun 28, 2007
Messages
2,123
Location
Melbourne, Australia
There was one a bit like this sold on eBay last night - own up - who bought it?

Huge head - 7D - diamond pattern stippling.

Die cast reflector - 50 years before FiveMega.

The only thing that puzzles me about the ad is the "sealed beam" reference. Could anyone hazard a guess?
 

Burgess

Flashaholic
Joined
Apr 10, 2006
Messages
6,545
Location
USA
Great find !

Thank you for sharing this with us. :thumbsup:

I myself really enjoyed reading the actual advertisement.


Especially interesting is the phrase:

If war comes may be only light source to safety.

:eeksign:


I remember those days very well !

_
 

DM51

Flashaholic
Joined
Oct 31, 2006
Messages
13,338
Location
Borg cube #51
I happened to be watching the film "The Black Dahlia" last night, and one of these lights was clearly shown being used.

The film is set in 1946. Perhaps this light was the nearest the film-makers could find to something from that period.
 

Bushman5

Enlightened
Joined
Sep 8, 2007
Messages
977
that would look so hot hanging off my duty belt.....

as for the one on ebay...hmmm....host body for modern day electronics maybe...??? :naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty::naughty:
 

Monocrom

Flashaholic
Joined
Aug 27, 2006
Messages
19,858
Location
NYC
I guess life really was good in the 50's. I wonder if the lights 40 years from now will really make us laugh at out Fenix P3D's and Surefire M6's...:thinking:

If you can hit a switch and instantly get 500 lumens out the front, with better than 20 minutes of runtime on six 123A cells AND have the light be as tough & reliable as an M6.... Then yes, giggles all around! :crackup:
 

Dr.K

Enlightened
Joined
Aug 31, 2007
Messages
261
Location
Webster Parish Louisiana
That makes me want to go to papaw's house and as ask him if he has any "flashlights from back in the day". He saves everything and I bet he does.
 

INFI

Newly Enlightened
Joined
Sep 7, 2007
Messages
57
My Brother-In-Law has a light that he got from his grandfather, along with some REALLY nice tools, (read much better than snap-on) I wonder if that is it? He has no batteries for it though and it is quite beat up.
 
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