Re: MR BULK VIP
Perhaps I can expand a bit on Bill and Karl's posts.
The VIP was built in the spring of 2004, by Mr. Bulk (Charles Wong) and the HAT (Hawaii Assembly Team):
The HAT, consisted of, left-to-right, Sonic, Darkgear, ZenGhost, Zackhugh, and Mr. Bulk with his new reading glasses.
The photos Bill posted are of a VIP with "Bulkhead," a larger diameter head than the stock head. The Bulkhead contains a large and deep reflector to maximize the throw of the light's beam. The stock head, which was the same diameter as the body, contained a focusing optic.
Here are a couple of VIP's; a black one like Bill's, wearing its stock head, with a Bulkhead beside it, and a raw aluminum copy wearing its Bulkhead, with a stock head and optic alongside:
The VIP has many features which stood it apart from other lights of the day, including a unique body texture consisting of knurled ridges which makes for an extremely aggressive but comfortable grip, and a three position brightness switch just under the head. Activate the light with the Kroll clicky hidden in the sharply pointed tail-standing tailcap, and control the brightness with the switch, low-medium-high.
Almost 4 years later, the VIP is still a phenom of a light, both as a user, or as a collectible.
Here's a set of Mr. Bulk bare aluminum lights, including almost all of the lights Karl listed:
Left-to-right you see the VIP, Lionheart, Chameleon, Lioncub and the Big Bulkhead, a turbo head which fits a couple of the lights. After the VIP, Mr. Bulk lights began sporting what I consider one of the most perfect flashlight UIs. The small button on the body not only activates the light, but can be held down to 'scroll' through a variety of brightness levels.
Much more information and photos can be found here:
http://darkgear.com/mrbulk/vip5.htm