Flashlight Friday

Its Flashlight Friday again!

Here is an Art Deco Rayovac two cell that is new to my collection...

(It was a yard sale find )

This beguiling light has a black and gold wood pattern printed onto it with copper accents.

The light was made circa 1935, with a slide and flash button and a cloud logo. 

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

The other day Caren of tea & chickadees came over for a visit and brought me this wonderful gift that she found at an estate sale!

Its a Rayovac Sportsman two cell complete with D ring...

What a vintage beauty!

Thanks Caren...

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

Its been a long day working in the forest...

The body and the mind are tired...

Yes its late in the day but ...

 its Friday....

Flashlight Friday!

Here are some new yard sale finds

In the background on the left is a Rayovac 3 cell Sportsman with hanger circa 1965 

and on the right is an Ash Flash 2 cell wtih hanger also circa 1965

The foreground features an Eveready sealed beam "Big Jim" no. 100 circa 1959

A symphony of vintage retro Blue Collar aesthetic!

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

FLASHLIGHT

CHALLENGE!!!

Yes its Flashlight Friday

 The sun is shining warmly through the window and thoughts of spring are on my mind today.

In the spirit of new spring beginnings I am putting forward a challenge to all my faithful readers...

An LED "flashlight mod"!

Go to the dollar store and buy a LED flashlight 

(there are a variety of types and configurations to choose from....and yes they sell batteries there too) ...take your new light apart and re-assemble it in a new and creative housing. 

What?????

For some inspiration  click on the links below....

http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-hack-and-old-flashlight-into-an-LED-one/

http://www.instructables.com/id/Old-Camera-parts-3-SLR-flashlight-hack/

Send me pics of your results and I will post them!

Good luck!

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

The dogs and I are just back from the bush...

Did you know its friday again?

 Well you flashlight fans...here is a rare opportunity...

A peek into part of my "Flashlight hall of fame"...

Yes there are more flashlights in the "overflow vault"!
enjoy!

I am hoping spring comes soon and the garage sales begin

so that I can continue to add to the collection and be able to feature new lights regularly.

As always vintage donations are gratefully accepted...

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

Well....

Wouldn't you know.....it's Friday

Flashlight Friday!

I guess some of you may be wondering where all those flashlights have been as of late.

Yes there are still flashlights in the "flashlight vault" that have yet to be featured here 

(I am going to need some new ones soon though) 

but it's cold in "the vault" so I haven't been going there very often.

Here though is a beauty that just needs to be shared! 

Its an Ecolite railway lantern produced by the Economy Electric Lantern Company

of Milwaukee

enjoy!

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

Yes its Flashlight Friday again!

To change things up a bit not only am I going to feature an new flashlight but I am going to

reveal my new method for cleaning rust.

This flashlight you see below was given to me tarnished and rusted. 

I proceeded to disassemble it and put it through my home made "electro bath" before polishing.

This "bath" for cleaning rust has to be one of the best things I have ever discovered how to make on the Internet ever!

By immersing rusted parts in this tub with a water and laundry soda mix.  rust can be removed electrolytically. Rust is turned into iron and just washes off!

I made this setup with a piece of rebar, a battery charger, a plastic tub and some lengths of copper wire!

The "Delta Powerhead" lantern went through it in parts which were dried and polished with
moms mag polish

You can see the reflection of my  camera in this  shot!

-Martinhttp://www.amazon.com/Mothers-5101-Aluminum-Polish-Paste/dp/B0009H519Y

Flashlight Friday

Its Flashlight Friday Again!
(Yes I know! Its actually thursday isn't it - see todays FIELD NOTE? )

Its starting to seem like friday has become the only time I can get to the computer to post.

The summer has beome a "series of endless fridays"

Well I can think of worse things to reflect on than "cool retro flashlights"!

Here is a flashlight that a friend recently rescued from the local dump.

It was sitting in the recycle bin destined to be crushed and melted.

Luckily there was an intervention and it has since been added to the collection.

This light was manufactured by the 

Tang Fun Lee company in Hong Kong under the Navy brand.

My guess is that it was made in the 1960's

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

Its Flashlight Friday again.

What's this....another Coleman Lantern?

Well sort of.....

This is a "Coleman Flashlight" I recently came across.

Its a departure from my usual retro Friday flashlight pick

but I thought you might enjoy this novelty light for a change.

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

Yes its Flashlight Friday again!

I have been busy researching Coleman Lantern Restoration for an upcoming post but took a break to bring this sleek light out of the archives to share with you today.

This is an Eveready 2 cell light circa 1950.

It has a wide boat switch and is all chrome. 

The logo has vertical lines.

The design of this light reminds me of an Airstream Trailer.

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

It's Flashlight Friday Again and here is an exciting new addition to the collection!

It's an unmarked lantern style light that was given to me by a friend and what a beauty this light is. Check out the retro lines to its design.

I think it might have been made by Burgess but can't say for sure.

The breakdown beacon extends for emergencies.

It's not mint (note the scratches and other wear marks) which makes it cool because it was used. It has two switches on the handle one for the front light and one for the rear. When I get a new battery to fit it I'm  going to try it out!

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

Another week has past and its Flashlight Friday again!

I'm getting a bit nervous about not having enough flashlights in the collection to sustain my Fridays with new material. We still have quite a few in "the vault" but no new flashlights have been added for the longest time.  

This lantern style light you see below  has no labelling.  It was probably made in Japan sometime in the 70's. It has a light that swings up and flashes. I think that is for using at the side of the road as a breakdown beacon. The cap on the swing up light was missing when I found the light so I fit the red cap off of a spray can on it. 

Did you notice?

Some people have asked me about how I photograph my blog pics.

Below is my complicated studio setup. The flashlight is sitting on the floor on top of a piece of white paper. 

The backdrop is resting up against my refrigerator . A magnet on the door holds the paper up.

It seems to work....

-Martin

Flashlight Friday

It's late flashlight Friday. 

The day is almost over after a fine meal of local fish, that I caught on a nearby lake, shared with a new friend. 

This switchmans' railway lantern you see below was made by the Conger Lantern Company of Portland Oregon circa mid 19th century. Its a favourite from my collection.

Enjoy!

-Martin