Little old square torch

[Neil]

Anyone got any information about this?



I picked it up at a car boot sale this morning.  It says 1/2 No.8 for the batteries   I distantly remember the no.8 size being used in Eveready torches when I was a kid so I'm guessing this is designed for some obscure half sized variation on it.

The bulb is rated at 3.8V though it may not be original.

Only marking is on the back and just days foreign in that unhelpful way.

More clickable pics...

[J-sews]

Don't know anything about it, but it sure is a cute little bugger.

[nuphoria]

The battery size and the design puts it around the 1940's or maybe early 50's but I've not seen one like it before.

Shame about the lack of mark... nice find though. Will AA's fit in with some spacers?

[Mr. Whippy]

No. 8, Number 8, Energizer 2R10, Ever Ready No. 8, IEC 2R10 Battery

Type: Zinc Chloride. Voltage: 3V.

Diameter: 21.8 mm. Height: 74.6 mm.

Price: £5.90 each. £5.70 each if you buy two or more. Postage and packing included.

Also known as: Energizer 2R10, Everready 2R10, Eveready No. 8, Ever Ready Number 8, GP210S, 2R10S
and also Varta 3010, V3010, Vidor V004, Drydex 2T10, GEC BA6105, Oldham K609, Siemens T8.

Comments:
This Ever Ready No. 8 or 2R10 battery is used in a wide variety of meters, vintage torches and other devices.

This Ever Ready No. 8 (Number Eight) or 2R10 battery internally contains two 1.5V cells hence the nickname 'Duplex'.

This No. 8 or 2R10 battery is of zinc chloride chemistry and out performs carbon-zinc versions for a long battery life.

These No. 8 or 2R10 batteries have a long shelf life. Why not buy two or more packs, take advantage of our reduced price and make sure you are not left without your vintage radio next time your battery runs out.

[Neil]

The battery size and the design puts it around the 1940's or maybe early 50's but I've not seen one like it before.

Shame about the lack of mark... nice find though. Will AA's fit in with some spacers?

Figured it was getting on a bit

Even AAA is too long. Best pysical fit is a 123.  its a bit too small but I just jiggled (technical term) one in and bridged across where the second cell should be and it lit up

Nate, these are marked as half no.8 so I'm guessing that what it needs is two of the individual cells that go together to make the no.8 you've pulled the details up on. 

You could possibly pull one apart but looking at the price I think it'd be cheaper and easier to put a dummy in one side and a packed out 123 in the other.

I wonder if two padded N cells would also work, probably but they're expensive as well.  Not that I planned using it as my EDC

[nuphoria]

Yeah, I saw a couple of things about no.8's but these take 1/2 no.8's.... I assume that they are 1/2 the size.

[turnsouth]

If I am not mistaken (and I often am) no. 8 batteries were originally two 1&1/2 volt 36mm batteries stacked together, and then sealed in a cardboard tube. And for a torch like yours, you would have had to cut the tube, and put a half in each side.

So really all you need to do is adapt something that will fit that will give 3 volts.

[Mr. Whippy]

Yow!

Be careful with searches on "No. 8 battery".  AVG blocked a malware site, listed as safe in the google search.

 

[jzmtl]

Figured it was getting on a bit

Even AAA is too long. Best pysical fit is a 123.  its a bit too small but I just jiggled (technical term) one in and bridged across where the second cell should be and it lit up

Nate, these are marked as half no.8 so I'm guessing that what it needs is two of the individual cells that go together to make the no.8 you've pulled the details up on. 

You could possibly pull one apart but looking at the price I think it'd be cheaper and easier to put a dummy in one side and a packed out 123 in the other.

I wonder if two padded N cells would also work, probably but they're expensive as well.  Not that I planned using it as my EDC

Sounds perfect then, put two 123a in serial, get one of those 200 lumen bulbs meant for surefire, and go bet with people that your antique flashlight is brighter than their modern tactical. 

[Mike, Lord of the Spammers!]

That's a lovely little light mate

Any chance of a bit some shot's of it lit up?

[Essexman]

Nice find. Old torches are such fun.

If you are any good with electronics take a look at the joule thief.

http://www.bigclive.com/joule.htm

I keep meaning to make one, but as with most things, haven't found the time.

[ICanFixThat]

Wow nice!  I've been spending too much on the SAK collection and have limited time right now so I've not been on CPF for a while... this is a good mini fix! 

I was surprised theer was no box light like it at the Flashlight Museum, that makes it even better.  You might want to email the owner of that site though and ask him if he has any info on it, I think that would be your best bet.

 

[Neil]

Here's something funny.  It wasn't until I went back and looked at it again after taking those pictures that I even noticed the glass mirror in the lid 

The surround of the bulb is dull now but when new I should imagine it was very reflective making this liitle torch ideal for powdering one's nose

I haven't done anything with it as yet but its still on the desk rather than buried in a box so there's hope

[Mike C]

Hi Neil, what a fantastic torch. Pifco made a one like this to. As Turnsouth has said it uses two cells out of a 3V No8 battery. These were known as U8, there are two inside a No8 battery. You could break one apart as thats what you had to do years ago an use the two cells but to prevent short outs you could put a paper jacket around the zinc casings. Looking at your torch it may be possible to bend the terminals to use two size N 1.5 cells. I have three examples from Pifco, none workers as there rotten inside but the other week i baught a torch that uses these U8 cells and i used two AAA cells but the compartment was bigger so i could bend terminals back, this torch had a bigger casing as yours is like the Pifco ones. You can get 3v camera batteries that may fit this with a bit of modification, Some camera batteries are 6V but contain two 3V cells you can take apart. Your best bet would be to order a 2R10 battery as this is the new code for No8, i have not seen these in the shops but Amazon have them, Split the battery case an insulate the two cells an it should work, Hope this helps, Regards  Mike.

[Tabasco]

Thats a awesome looking light!!!

Mike C--Welcome ! and great first post!

[Mike C]

Thanks for the welcome. Here is a pic of what i think this battery is, The U8 is a mock up i made from the badly leaking example i had to throw away.

[Neil]

That's a lovely little light mate

Any chance of a bit some shot's of it lit up?

Better late than never




Just using a 123 in one side and a bolt to complete the circuit in the other side.

[Mr. Whippy]

I can't explain it, but I WANT one of those.

It's totally retro.  Like having a transistor radio or rotary phone. 

[Gareth]

I can't explain it, but I WANT one of those.

It's totally retro.  Like having a transistor radio or rotary phone. 

I want one as well, it's just cool.

I took my daughter to our national museum last weekend; they have a section on communications with one of the displays having a rotary telephone you can play with.  I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit that I spent quite a while just playing with it and reminiscing back to my youth.

[turnsouth]

My mom used to keep one of these on the kitchen table. It was an AM radio, flashlight, watch, and cigarette lighter, and a fold out plug on the back to charge the batteries. It was cool:

[Gareth]

Now that's just a fantastic multi-function gadget, love it.

[Mr. Whippy]

My mom used to keep one of these on the kitchen table. It was an AM radio, flashlight, watch, and cigarette lighter, and a fold out plug on the back to charge the batteries. It was cool:

(Image removed from quote.)

I would have that in my office, front and center on my desk.  It's made of complete awesomeness.  Great picture.

[turnsouth]

I think she got it free with a new stove she bought. Or she could have bought it outright, that was back in the day when people bought transistor radios from a salesman in an appliance store.

I remember it playing for hours on end, sitting at breakfast listening to the news, wondering why they were so worried about Vietnam. And when she would have the card club come over I can still see them passing it around to light their cigarettes.

Eventually the rechargeable batteries quit, and the lighter element burned out, so it became my radio/flashlight. Then one day I picked it up and the carbon batteries had turned the inside into a big rusty mess. So I scavenged the light out of it and the rest went in the trash.

Wish I still had it...

[Gareth]

Yours for a mere $135; http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-60s-Westinghouse-Escort-AM-Radio-Flashlight-Cigarette-Lighter-/400295211767?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item5d337432f7

just a little rich for my blood.

[turnsouth]

Yours for a mere $135;

Maybe...

[Neil]

I took my daughter to our national museum last weekend; they have a section on communications with one of the displays having a rotary telephone you can play with.  I'm only slightly embarrassed to admit that I spent quite a while just playing with it and reminiscing back to my youth.

I have a good half dozen or so rotary phones sat under my desk right now   All waiting refurbishment and sale.  You used to be able to pick them up cheap from car boot sales but people have started realising their value and I haven't snagged one cheap in quite a while.

My mom used to keep one of these on the kitchen table. It was an AM radio, flashlight, watch, and cigarette lighter, and a fold out plug on the back to charge the batteries. It was cool:

(Image removed from quote.)

Yep, that's a very cool muti-tool

[Neil]

Having decided I look gorgeous enough without the help of an illuminated mirror I've just sold it to a collector over in the Netherlands

It turns out he's written a book about old torches.  Here's a link, you can click on some example pages under the text. And here's the google translated page.

[Gareth]

good looking book that.  If it was written in English I'd be very tempted to buy one.

[Neil]

Someone is lurking but not posting... 

I got this message yesterday..

With interest I have read the discussions in the Flashlight Forum. You might tell Gareth that my book has been sold to collectors and museums in 8 different countries incl. USA. Also several collectors in the UK have bought it. Although written in Dutch the book contains more than 800 pictures (of old/antique torches, old catalogues, advertising etc) which makes it interesting and easy to understand. A lot of British brands are described and shown in the book, such as Ever Ready, Pifco, Drydex, TEC, Mandaw, Ediswan e.o.
Funny that Google also translated my last name (Weide) in meadow...!

  Pictures Gareth, your level

<runs>

[Gareth]

Someone is lurking but not posting... 

I got this message yesterday..

With interest I have read the discussions in the Flashlight Forum. You might tell Gareth that my book has been sold to collectors and museums in 8 different countries incl. USA. Also several collectors in the UK have bought it. Although written in Dutch the book contains more than 800 pictures (of old/antique torches, old catalogues, advertising etc) which makes it interesting and easy to understand. A lot of British brands are described and shown in the book, such as Ever Ready, Pifco, Drydex, TEC, Mandaw, Ediswan e.o.
Funny that Google also translated my last name (Weide) in meadow...!

  Pictures Gareth, your level

<runs>