Nice looking leather covered torch

Sundance has the following light available on their website:

http://www.sundancecatalog.com/shop...7731&itemType=PRODUCT&AS=1&keyword=flashlight

Leather-clad Flashlight
A classic since 1917, our tried-and-true flashlight will brighten his path. We wrapped it in chocolate top-grain leather, exposing the chrome plated tip, tail and thumb switch. Two-way switch. Uses three D batteries (not included). 3-1/2"DIA. x 9-1/2"L.

They even explain where chrome plating originated:

In 1913, English metallurgist Harry Brearly, working on a project to improve rifle barrels, accidentally discovered that adding chromium to low carbon steel gives it stain resistance. In addition to iron, carbon, and chromium, modern stainless steel may also contain other elements that enhance the corrosion resistance of it. It is the addition of a minimum of 12% chromium to the steel that makes it resist rust, or stain 'less' than other types of steel. The chromium in the steel combines with oxygen in the atmosphere to form a thin, invisible layer of chrome-containing oxide, called the passive film. The sizes of chromium atoms and their oxides are similar, so they pack neatly together on the surface of the metal, forming a stable layer only a few atoms thick that is remarkable strong.

I really like the look of the light, but know I would not be happy with its beam - so if anyone decides to mod more than one, I would buy the other.....

Thanks,

Marc

That's a really sweet looking torch! I may have to order one to check it out!

Is it my imagination, or does the reflector look textured?

Very cool looking. Would be neat to mod it with new technology thats way brighter than whats in it...

Cameron

Ok, just ordered one of these. It looks just waaaay too cool to not get one!

I asked Sundance about the reflector, and the girl on the phone had to go get one to check for me. The reflector is in fact textured. How about that?!

If the beam is decent, I have a powerstick regulated 2D to put in this bad boy. An Everled/Diamond might be good too. The Powerstik would need a D size spacer, but it outputs 3D power (and maintains it for 5 hours in flat regulation). If I recall, it's 3.6V and .9A, which is pretty much the specs for a 3D Mag.

That is a cool light. Very classic looking. If it gets modded I wouldn't be suprised to see it in a hollywood retro movie.
I'd like to hear if it gets modded easily. I'd be interested in buying one.

Too cool - just placed an order.

posting an as yet unknown flashlight on CPF is like shooting fish in a barrel..... or is that like moths to a flame......
edit: I'm laughing 'cos I'm not the only one that's totally gone.... :shakehead

That looks nice. Not for my decor but wow, imagine someone's surprise if you put a hotwire mod in there.

On second look, I ordered one. Hope it mods nicely.

Geddinight said:

On second look, I ordered one. Hope it mods nicely.

Click to expand...

Ha; ya caved. Good man!

:lolsign:

I know what I'm getting!!! We do a "murder mystery dinner" twice a year and it's always set in a "roaring 20's" format so that light will be a great prop!

Just received mine this morning...fast service!!

The reflector is textured. The beam pattern has a dounut hole except when the head is backed off some and focuses the beam to a nice very tight smooth beam! The bulb is a screw in type and is cylendrical(sp) in shape with a flat top.

It is a nice looking light but is made of rather thin metal...much like my Grandfathers light from the '30s.

This will make a nice Christmas present!

Here is a picture of the reflector http://ftp2.itexas.net/Rbost/leather.jpg

Nice shot, Roy. Can a PR base bulb fit in the screw socket?

BTW....It has a glass lens. At best it MIGHT be weather resistant.

A PR base into the screw base.....don't know. I would think not.

Any idea how much current that bulb draws?

A glass lens is very unexpected, as is the quality of that reflector!

:wow:

The bulb is marked:
KAIDA
3.8V
0.3A

Anyone know of a brighter bulb available in the US?

The manufacturing date of that light is claimed to be 1917. I believe that's incorrect. I don't have the light in front of me so I can't say for certain, but it looks very much like a recently made Chinese copy of an American flashlight made post-1950. Go to the website and click on the picture to enlarge, then click on the image to zoom in. Compare it to the image below which I just took of a Chinese-made light. See in particular the band of diagonal lines behind the head. I've only ever seen these on Chinese lights.

Nikon, it sure looks to be the same. The only difference I noticed is the photo you show seems to have an average sized head and the Sundance offering has a large head.
Mine is due here this afternoon. I still think it's a cool looking light and hope that I still think so after it arrives.
I hope someone finds a good replacement bulb!

Roy said:

The bulb is marked:
KAIDA
3.8V
0.3A

Anyone know of a brighter bulb available in the US?

Click to expand...

Roy, take another look at that bulb. Are you sure it isn't 0.8A, not 0.3A? Mine looks like an 8. I haven't slapped a DMM on it yet.

It could be 0.8A kinda hard to tell....mine is missing the left side of the "8" so it looks like a "3".

The tail cap is imbossed with "Tiger Head Bravo" "Made In China".

A GOOGLE search on the info on the bulb, turned up a company in China named KAIDA that appears to be the maker of these lights. They sell the bulbs (3.8v 0.3A) by the 1000 piece lots.