Minimoog
Enlightened
- Joined
- Jan 13, 2005
- Messages
- 771
In the early period of torches there was all sorts of designs until it was refined by the 1930's to the design we have now - a tube with a head on it. I thought I would share an earlier design with you - from the mid 1920's. I had forgotten I had this, but after rediscovering it, thought I would get it going. My Dad picked it up from the second hand market which was very good in the 1980's - a good place for old lights. So here is the light - you can see it is like a lantern with turn switch and japanned black finish. The handle on top is nice to hold - feels like holding an oil lamp.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1widc8ppqlik4hw/DSC_0452.jpg?dl=0
It has a thick glass lens on the front and the rear has a sort of safety pin to use on a trench coat or similar.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kxu83r2l4dc1l9u/DSC_0455.jpg?dl=0
The back door just snaps shut. On looking inside I saw that it took a LONG obsolete battery so using a battery holder, some high density foam, a short length of wire and a washer I rigged up a modern way of powering it. Whilst in there I cleaned up some ancient battery corrosion residue, repaired the switch and reinforced it with some foam behind the part where it pressed (as it was only held by two very old rivets). Lashings of De-Oxit used as I went. The internals are simple but offer very good contact stability - no flickering - as the switch wipes on each actuation. Here is the inside with my battery pack:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/agqhxv5mnbiikqy/DSC_0456.jpg?dl=0
The front lens unscrews to reveal an unusual reflector with petals. This was tarnished and I knew better than to rub with anything as it will just strip the plating. I used De-Oxit again and the contamination and oxidisation just wiped away - pretty amazing stuff! Here is the view of the reflector:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1s0pcxqgsrvhf6o/DSC_0458.jpg?dl=0
Well, when it was time to try it I did not think it would work but it did first go! Pretty amazing and reliable bit of kit.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y33ndmtmlj6zjr7/DSC_0460.jpg?dl=0
The original bulb I remember being one with an elliptical shape, cream painted rear and S filament (predating the coiled type). It was blown and is now long lost. However 3.5V bulbs are freely available and I fitted a spare one I had from the 1950's period. It is 0.3A rated. Here is the beam it produces. It is NOTHING like any modern light as there are rainbow colours mixed with blues and a golden 'hot spot' with the flower shape showing itself in the beam. It is bright enough to guide your way on a dark night easily and the beam is refreshing and nostalgic.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d0wgizz5o135p0m/DSC_0461.jpg?dl=0
So this is what people were using 90 years ago, and the beam they were seeing. Truth be told it is perfectly useable now. Don't pass the oldies by - they really are nice to use still. Hope you enjoyed a bit of history there.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1widc8ppqlik4hw/DSC_0452.jpg?dl=0
It has a thick glass lens on the front and the rear has a sort of safety pin to use on a trench coat or similar.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kxu83r2l4dc1l9u/DSC_0455.jpg?dl=0
The back door just snaps shut. On looking inside I saw that it took a LONG obsolete battery so using a battery holder, some high density foam, a short length of wire and a washer I rigged up a modern way of powering it. Whilst in there I cleaned up some ancient battery corrosion residue, repaired the switch and reinforced it with some foam behind the part where it pressed (as it was only held by two very old rivets). Lashings of De-Oxit used as I went. The internals are simple but offer very good contact stability - no flickering - as the switch wipes on each actuation. Here is the inside with my battery pack:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/agqhxv5mnbiikqy/DSC_0456.jpg?dl=0
The front lens unscrews to reveal an unusual reflector with petals. This was tarnished and I knew better than to rub with anything as it will just strip the plating. I used De-Oxit again and the contamination and oxidisation just wiped away - pretty amazing stuff! Here is the view of the reflector:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/1s0pcxqgsrvhf6o/DSC_0458.jpg?dl=0
Well, when it was time to try it I did not think it would work but it did first go! Pretty amazing and reliable bit of kit.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/y33ndmtmlj6zjr7/DSC_0460.jpg?dl=0
The original bulb I remember being one with an elliptical shape, cream painted rear and S filament (predating the coiled type). It was blown and is now long lost. However 3.5V bulbs are freely available and I fitted a spare one I had from the 1950's period. It is 0.3A rated. Here is the beam it produces. It is NOTHING like any modern light as there are rainbow colours mixed with blues and a golden 'hot spot' with the flower shape showing itself in the beam. It is bright enough to guide your way on a dark night easily and the beam is refreshing and nostalgic.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/d0wgizz5o135p0m/DSC_0461.jpg?dl=0
So this is what people were using 90 years ago, and the beam they were seeing. Truth be told it is perfectly useable now. Don't pass the oldies by - they really are nice to use still. Hope you enjoyed a bit of history there.
