What's the facination?

[Gareth]

My story sounds like a lot here already.  First started using torches while camping with my Dad, Cubs and then Scouts.  Mostly cheep and semi-disposable things for myself, I always wanted one of the heavy duty rubber sleeved torches that my Dad had.  Got into Maglites when I started working and had a load of them, I only started buying LEDs a couple of years back.

[ducktapehero]

I just liked having them because they're so handy. Of course when I was a kid I always had cheap ones. When I got older I realized that spending a little more money will greatly increase the performance. Now, I don't need a Surefire or some other $100 flashlight but I want more than a $2 special from the gas station. I generally spend about $20-$30 and I'm completely happy.

I bought a "semi-tactical" flashlight(it is not black but it does have the strike bezel) from Wal-Mart for $20 bucks and it's been superb. I'm gonna get a few more like it when finances loosen up a bit.

[SteveRacer]

My first was soemthing my Grandfather gave me, a [seeming] WW2 relic that was olive drab and held 2 D-cells.  It had a 90-degree head on it and was made of something like plastic but heavy - more like "bakelite" if that means anything.  It stunk -- literally smelled like a shorted out electric motor.  It had a brass slide switch, a silver button for signaling, and a clip and a solid D-ring for a lanyard.  It didn't work that well and back in those days even the best "black-cat" Eveready batteries leaked.  But it was substantial enough that you could scrub away all the acid and crud on the contacts and switch with baking soda (there's a very distinct smell of that stuff reacting; something you'd never forget -- grandpa gave me lessons on the procedure) and it would work as good as new.  Which is to say, not that great. I think the head unscrewed and you could put colored filters in there, but I didn't have any.  Supposedly waterproof, but since the acid often leaked out, I can't see how water couldn't get in.

He had a few of them, and even though he was a WW2 vet I don't think he brought them back.  But it was Army issue -- has US military part numbers and the lot.  Can't say where he really got them.  It was a cool gift for a kid to get from his grandpa.  That 90-degree head meant you could set it on end and illuminate an area for all sorts of childhood hijinx.  Wish I still had it.  I wouldn't want to carry it, although I certainly did when we played "Army".

-steve

[ringzero]

My first was soemthing my Grandfather gave me, a [seeming] WW2 relic that was olive drab and held 2 D-cells.
...
That 90-degree head meant you could set it on end and illuminate an area for all sorts of childhood hijinx.  Wish I still had it.

WW2 version:

http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/GITS-Flashlight-2-Cell-Military-Issue-Right-Angle-Plastic-Flashlight-2D-1946

Improved Vietnam Era version:

http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/GT-Price-Flashlight-MX-991-U-2-Cell-Dark-Green-Right-Angle-Light-with-Belt-Clip-and-Ring-Hanger-2D-1963

I had several lights of this pattern marked "BSA" but don't recall the manufacturer.

I've owned several of the mil surplus versions that were manufactured by Fulton, which still makes them.


http://www.georgia-outfitters.com/page55.shtml

These mil surplus anglehead lights are a sentimental favorite for lots of people.

These are decent task lights because of the belt clip and right angle head.  Reliable and fairly durable, they are useful in the stock incan config.  They get even better if updated with LED dropins.

Lots of info on CPF on modding these with higher output LEDs and overdriven incan bulbs.

.
 

[Styerman]

I guess Humans have an ancestral , primal fear of the dark , and generally suck at operating in that enviroment . A torch changes all that .

Chris

[Spoonrobot]

I got into lights because I couldn't sleep.

Before I started college there was a stint where I had no job, no car and nothing to do. I got into a cycle where I would stay up until about an hour before the sun rose and then sleep until early evening. I spent a lot of time reading and playing video games, until I ran out of new books and beat all the games. After that I spent a lot of time talking to friends on the internet and smoking cigarettes on my porch. Being that I had to walk a little less than a mile down a fairly dark suburban street every time I wanted a pack of cigarettes I eventually decided I wanted something to make the walk a little less creepy if I needed it.

Having decided the need was there I figured I should buy a good light. Somehow I found a link to County Comm, seeing all the cool gadgets they had on their site I bought the two lights they had for sale figuring they would be the best on the market. This was mid-2003 and the Inova X1 and X5 that I bought were pretty hot little lights. I carried the X1 everywhere, it was my EDC before I knew that acronym existed. I'd carry the X5 when I needed some serious light (this is laughable now  ). After seeing the utility of a small penlight I just stuck with it and have had a light on my person pretty much everyday since I got that first package from County Comm. This is constantly reinforced by the fact that I spent several years working at night and generally spend the weekends out and about after dark. A light is a necessity for me now.

Here's the X1.

And the special HAIII X5.


Current light is a Fenix P2D CE in Olive. How far we've come!

[Zack]

What kind of clip is on the P2D?

[Spoonrobot]

It's a silicone slip-on clip from a Zebralight H30 flashlight.

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

I guess Humans have an ancestral , primal fear of the dark , and generally suck at operating in that enviroment . A torch changes all that .

Chris

Very good point

Keep the stories coming please guys

[rp252]

How about using the torch as a lightsaber and having pretend fights with your mates.  One with a green filter, one with a red.  I've done that, and I'm not ashamed to admit it... 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

How about using the torch as a lightsaber and having pretend fights with your mates.  One with a green filter, one with a red.  I've done that, and I'm not ashamed to admit it... 

Yep. I did that too  

[ringzero]

Or where you the kid who read in bed under the duvet with an old leaky Ever ready

The light I was given at age 5 that I used to read under the bedcovers was just like this model:

http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Eveready-Flashlight-115-Chrome-Little-Jim-Pocket-Lite-with-Red-Wand-Lens-Guard-and-Boat-Switch-1AA-1955

Output similar to Mag Solitaire, but with a bit better throw and somewhat longer runtime.  Just enough output to read a comic book, check out strange sounds, and keep nightime monsters at bay.

.

[rp252]

Or where you the kid who read in bed under the duvet with an old leaky Ever ready

The light I was given at age 5 that I used to read under the bedcovers was just like this model:
(Image removed from quote.)
http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Eveready-Flashlight-115-Chrome-Little-Jim-Pocket-Lite-with-Red-Wand-Lens-Guard-and-Boat-Switch-1AA-1955

Output similar to Mag Solitaire, but with a bit better throw and somewhat longer runtime.  Just enough output to read a comic book, check out strange sounds, and keep nightime monsters at bay.

.

  That's something I can relate to.  Thats a good summation of why I liked torches as a kid. 

Oddly enough, with a little loose interpretation those reasons could still be applied to why I like flashlights today     Nighttime reading, checking out strange noises and reducing the danger of the dark (tripping etc).

[andrea.from.roma]

It all started while camping with my dad. I liked the idea of being able to see in the dark and I've been looking since then for the perfect flashlight. There isn't such a thing, of course, and that is why - in my opinion - we keep using, collecting and liking them.

[ringzero]

This is the model that I EDCed for some years, after getting the first one at age 12:

http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Eveready-Flashlight-9215-Chrome-Penlight-with-Black-Cap-and-Chrome-Button-Switch-2AA-1976

These were decent lights, very useful for EDC. All of mine eventually developed switch problems, becoming intermittent, then failing.

.

[John]

This is the model that I EDCed for some years, after getting the first one at age 12:
(Image removed from quote.)
http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Eveready-Flashlight-9215-Chrome-Penlight-with-Black-Cap-and-Chrome-Button-Switch-2AA-1976

These were decent lights, very useful for EDC. All of mine eventually developed switch problems, becoming intermittent, then failing.

.

Most likely that was caused by oxidization on the + and - contacts,it looks from the picture it would be hard to clean the  contact nearest the led 

[ringzero]

This is the model that I EDCed for some years, after getting the first one at age 12:
(Image removed from quote.)
http://www.flashlightmuseum.com/Eveready-Flashlight-9215-Chrome-Penlight-with-Black-Cap-and-Chrome-Button-Switch-2AA-1976

These were decent lights, very useful for EDC. All of mine eventually developed switch problems, becoming intermittent, then failing.

.

Most likely that was caused by oxidization on the + and - contacts,it looks from the picture it would be hard to clean the  contact nearest the led 

John, these little incandescent lights pre-dated LEDs by many decades.

Yeah oxidation could be an issue, but mostly it was just wear and tear on the parts of the switch.  Eventually all clicky switches will wear out, even the expensive ones.

These lights were fairly inexpensive so it wasn't a big deal to replace them ever so often.

.
 

[John]

I guess the ultimate fascination has to be when you can launch a beam 1/2 mile away 

as in the MB or BB 

check this beam shot out 900 yrds on low mode enjoy 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

Bugger me, that is a death ray

[Neil]

What's on the front of that to get such low dispersion?

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

What's on the front of that to get such low dispersion?

A Death Star

[665ae]

I guess the ultimate fascination has to be when you can launch a beam 1/2 mile away 

as in the MB or BB 

check this beam shot out 900 yrds on low mode enjoy 
(Image removed from quote.)

Barn Burner?

[Styerman]

As we age our eyes need more photons to see a difference . Over the 40 year period between 20 and 60 , this ( absent macular degeneration ) represents a 400% increase ! Us old farts need them lights !

Chris