East German Flashlight

This is an original East German Flashlight.  It is like new and is of the German design used in WW2.  It is a number of color lenses to change the light color.  It has an odd shaped battery but could be operated by connecting a number of single AA cells and connecting them in series.  I will get around to trying that someday just by taping the batteries together than wiring the terminals properly.  If I try it and it works I'll share the photos.

Here is a photo of the old battery that I bought at the same time I found the light.  With the voltage it seems that three 1.5v AA batteries in series can replace this.

Browning Submersible - pocket clip light

This was a twenty dollar light when I bought it probably close to twenty years ago.  It is waterproof and has been very useful when in the field.  It won't come on by accident since you have to turn the top to light it.  The clip is strong and will hold it firmly on a pocket.  The image size you see here is close to the real size.  It uses 2 AAA batteries.  I stick with rechargeable batteries to prevent damage to this gem.  This is a pre-LED light.  It is either incandescent or a high intensity bulb.


Here is a light that I might consider a substitute for the one above rather than going for the now $30 and $40 lights that fit most of the submersible category.  This one only uses one AAA battery thus reducing weight and with an LED making it last longer than the Browning.  I like the carabiner on it along with the safety color.  This has a blinking mode as well so it can be a marking and rescue device or even for an additional safety light if broken down on the side of the road.

Book and Work Light from a Dollar Store

This book light can be found at various Dollar stores.  I believe I paid $2 for it though you might find one for a Dollar.  I've owned this one for over a decade and it still works and helps reading light when camping or reading in the car while stopped.  It is surprisingly reliable.

Press a button and it unfolds to the position on the left.

The light is white though it appears blue in the photo.


Here is another Dollar Store light that I have used.  It has a flexible neck and works well for reading and detail work.

A two dollar Flea Market Light - It works

This is a cheap metal flashlight but it does run on 7 LED lights.  Though it is not well made it still has the benefit of putting out a lot of light since it runs on D Cell batteries.  Surprisingly, this was a transition light before the small ones really came into their own.  I never tested to see how long this would stay lit on the D cells but I presume it would be a long run.  The butt cap is not well situated and would eventually fail because of the thin metal threading on the base.  The switch will probably be the first thing to fail just based on the overall quality of the light.  I bought it just to see what I could get for two dollars.  It's not bad and qualifies as a disposable.

I ran an Amazon search and it appears that only the Maglite is still available for D cells with LED lights unless you go with the Panasonic multi battery light.  I know the Maglite will work flawlessly so this is the one I'll put up.

Flashlight News: Burglar Leaves Flashlight, Another Takes his with him, and Donations to Storm Victims includes Flashlights

Burglar leaves a flashlight behind
Hey, even burglars need to see in the dark.  I wonder if they can get some prints off of it.

Burglar uses a flashlight
While they slept a burglar used to light to see his way around the house.  I wonder if maybe there should be a burglar model to come out from a major manufacturer.

Donations to storm victims include flashlights - Georgia hit by a storm.
This is course makes perfect sense since having light really is helpful when the power is down.  I notice that it appears most of these are the small led lights that are the mainstay of low cost lights nowadays.   They do work well, putting out a lot of light and also last a long time for the amount of energy used.

Advertising Light: Old Style

 It's a collectible and it still works well.

If you want a new D cell light now your best bet is a Maglite.

Multi_tool LED Light

I bought one of these for less than $6.  and it has a workable LED in addition to screwdrivers and cutting blades all on a keychain.  Not bad.  I keep one in the car.

You can see the LED button in the center.

Here is a versatile tool from Swiss-Tech with the same functions.

Panasonic Flashlight - The Light

I used this light regularly around the house.  One interesting aspect of how it worked it lit the red lens holder at the top.  It is translucent so you could see the light from the side through the red plastic making it easier to find if you set it down when on or if someone else was with you they could see it from the side.  The switch worked perfectly as if they had put in a high quality switch.

This was a very good light for well over a decade until some batteries leaked in it.  The bottom spring corroded and I never got around to figuring out a repair.  Too bad because it was a smooth and very reliable light.  You can't access the rear spring since this is an enclosed base on the light making it difficult to reach for cleaning or replacement.  Because of this it may be a throwaway.

In the future if you want a Panasonic light you'll have to find something else since this is no longer available.

I haven't bought one of these yet, but a flashlight that works with either D, C, AA, AAA is an invaluable survival tool.  This one is on my wish list.

Rechargeable Batteries Are The Way to Go in Flashlights

The GE Ni Cad batteries still work and are used in two different flashlights and they may be up to 30 years old.  I lost track.  I know they're at least around 25 years old. What a deal.  If I had known they would last this long I'd have bought more than four of them especially when you see the price of D Cells now.  GE no longer sells these and other brands are now quite expensive.


 Fortunately there are adaptors that will allow you to use one or two AA batteries to fit in a D cell device.


The eneloop batteries are the best I've come across in the current crop of rechargeable batteries.  One of the best things about them is that they hold a charge for years and years.  I had a few packs unopened for four years and the charge level was still at almost 80%.  Amazing.

I haven't had the same luck with the Energizers.  Some worked well and others wouldn't hold a charge for any duration beyond a few weeks.  Not my first choice.

My Regularly Used Lights

Here is a sampling of the lights I have in my vehicles.  Don't feel guilty if you like having lots of lights around.  There is no substitute for a good flashlight when the lights are out.

Flashlight News: EDC Review, Mayor gets a Flashlight, Flashlight gets man busted

Everyday Carry Review - Thrunite
I have my own favorite for carry.  It's a streamlight in multiple sizes going from a keyring light to a pen light.  All are superb.

Mayor in India gets a Flashlight
It's a nice story and a reminder that not all places supply the mayor with a mansion and limo.  This gentleman works in his job and decided that a flashlight is one of his most important tools.

Flashlight gets a man busted
You never leave behind your tools when you do a job especially if you're a thief.

Garrity Life-lite

This is a great light.  It was my mom's for well over a decade.  It is permanently sealed and somehow the battery stays strong close to 15 years later.  I checked the reviews for the current ones and though the light is still made it appears the quality may have suffered in the later versions.  For now I still have a Life-Lite that is well used and still going strong.

Weight 5.9 oz

It is well suited for a simple handhold.

Old Style: Director-Lite

The standard two D cell plastic safety flashlight is a work of beauty and technology.   The simplicity of the design and the ergonomic perfection is why these lasted for decades as the standard of functionality.

Here is a photo of a one of the standard versions.  I haven't been able to find any on ebay or a web search so the remaining ones out there just don't rate sharing.  As for age, I haven't been able yet to locate the year of manufacture so I'll guess at the 1960's-70's.

The current version of a 2 D cell flashlight that comes closest to the old style is the MagLite.

Shake Flashlight

These are a disappointment.  I have yet to find one that is superbly reliable.  The one thing you want is a flashlight that will work when you need it in an emergency and these tend to let you down when you need them.

A better option might be the hand crank version of lights.  I had one of these years ago and it finally failed mechanically.

The reviews on this particular model seem very good though I haven't owned this brand it is probably the one I'd try.  It looks good in Olive Drab too.

Angle Head Flashlights - Civilian

Angle head flashlights serve a great purpose when working they can clip to your jacket pocket or belt to illuminate the work area.  These lights can also be used for mounting on a hat or helmet with some modifications.  Of course now there are specific lights designed for wearing as headgear.

Here is a low cost Garrity angle head light.  It's an old design and uses 2 AA cells.  It has an incandescent light so is not very bright but is usable for things like map reading or in a tent.  It has a very limited range.

Newer designs by Dorcy are similar to the old military angle head lights.

Below are some found on Amazon.

Fighting Flashlights - Mag-lite

Self Defense with Flashlights takes many forms.  One way developed by the company Mag-lite out of Ontario, California was to create a light that doubled as a self defense tool especially when batteries were installed.

Below is a 2 Cell version of the Mag-lite.    There are versions that have 3 and 4 cells as well.  Each is longer and therefore heavier giving much more leverage.  Police and security guards have used these to great effect over the decades.  I knew a utility worker that carried one and he protected himself regularly with one of the 4 cell versions.

These lights can be found on Amazon in all types of designs, colors,  and configurations.



I find the 2 or 3 cell Mag-lite to be the idea length.  The 4 cell light is more towards a heavy club and is not something you'd carry around but might keep in your car.  The old incandescent version is a workable light but the LED versions generate much more light.

Flashlight Maker Update: Lumintop

New flashlight designs for gifts Lumintop
Check out the site for this manufacturer.  It has some elegant designs and the USB recharge capability is a nice extra.   You can find them on Amazon and through a number of dealers in the USA.  It appears to have worldwide distribution.

Flashlight Market Increases 2.5%

Interesting marketing study on growth of flashlight demand.

Something not clearly defined is the use of lights on so many devices not previously attached to them.  Since the advent of long life LED lights things like drills and other tools have lights on the pointy end for good targeting of the device.  It makes perfect sense and has expanded the overall use of lights to most everything.  Most people have seen the keychain lights now available.  Some are microscopic but put out as much light as an old 2 D cell standard incandescent flashlight.

Ryobi has added them to their battery powered drills recently.  It seems like a great innovation since they already have a battery powered device and adding a light draws almost no energy relative to the capacity of the battery and the draw of the motor.  It's an added feature.

Then of course there is now a marketing Push for Valentine flashlights.  Prada has one for sale in the multi-hundred range.

Police Lights

Warrior by Powertac USA

Duty Flashlights are a solid purchase for most police.  Many citizens followed the lead decades ago when switching to the maglite design with a heavy club weighed down by lots of batteries.  One problem is that they became a legal liability when you smack someone with such a heavy object made of metal it tends to do a lot of damage.  For police the extra weight became a problem since more gear is added every day to the uniform.  The latest of course is a camera to video all interactions with citizens.

Here is a nice article about the reasoning for one police department switching to the Warrior by Powertac USA
http://www.officer.com/article/12281698/duty-flashlights-same-tool-smaller-size-law-enforcement-technology-magazine-january-2017

It also describes a number of other modern lights all of which are now going with LED lights.  This drastically increases efficiency in terms of weight versus lumens and the duration of battery life per charge.

U.S. MX - 991/U Military Angle Head Flashlight - Vietnam Era

If you were in the military before the advent of diode lights this is what you carried if you carried one at all.  It is a great working light though the volume of light is limited it does the job.

This is the classic angle head flashlight in use for decades.  It has a standard incandescent bulb, a set of filters for color and protecting night vision and detection under special conditions.  There lights are sturdy and usable for a long time.  Usually when they fail it’s the switch.

I have carried this light in my vehicle for the past twenty years.  I usually just put in some rechargeable D cells in it and leave it there and it has come in handy many times.  

It has a clip for hanging on a shirt or belt for hands free use and for carry.  It also has a lanyard loop on the back.  Newer commercial designs are smaller and lighter.  

Made in the USA.  This is one of my favorite lights.  It's military grade.

G.T. Price Products
Los Angeles 31, CA

This light came with only 3 filters, clear, white, and red.  So the blue one is missing.  Under the spring is an extra bulb.

Sporting Trade Shows - Where Flashlights are found

Surefire Trade Show Schedule

https://www.surefire.com/trade-shows


Sports Inc. Trade Show Dates

https://www.sportsinc2.com/show-dates


Safari Club International Shows

https://www.showsci.org/


Nations Best Sports Markets

http://www.nationsbestsports.com/markets/markets-1

Flashlight News - Great Information Website

I found this site on a search.  It has some great information on new products.

http://www.flashlightnews.org/

Why This Site for Flashlights

I love flashlights.  It seems I've always been fascinated by them.   I started collecting old ones I came across and of course when some new designs came along I found myself intrigued enough to go ahead and buy one.  At this stage I think of myself as more than a flashlight enthusiast, more than a collector, but more of a connoisseur.  I truly enjoy a great design and function in a flashlight.

As as sportsman who likes camping and someone who has been on the road many times where a flashlight meant making life easier I learned to appreciate a reliable and well adapted light.  In the military we found having the right light another means of getting the job done.  In day to day living out in the country I find myself using a flashlight or two every day.  As I get older and my eyes don't work as well in the dark a flashlight is a necessary tool to prevent accidents and to just find things.  Even reading something is easier with the right light.  I own a whole bunch of them.  Each of my vehicles probably has half a dozen varied lights in it, and around the house there is probably one in every room.  They are my version of a security blanket.  With a light I own the night.

I hope to share some of my experience with them by showing you ones I've owned and also give reviews of new ones I come across and purchase.

Flashlights are a metaphor for humankind in their quest for fire and illumination.

Bottom line:  A good light is cool.


Thanks to David Misell the British inventor who patented the first flashlight in 1899.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flashlight