wjv
Enlightened
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2012
- Messages
- 962
Just an observation or two or three. .
I realize that many of these people sell all sorts of stuff and don't specialize in flashlights. But still I'm amazed at the number of listings I see that say something like: "I don't have any 'D' (or 'C') batteries so I don't know if this light works".
I always think, for $4-$5 dollars you can go to the Dollar Tree (or similar store)and come home with a pack each of 'AAA', 'AA', 'C' and 'D' batteries. Now I don't recommend these batteries for general usage, but to simply keep in a drawer and to use for testing flashlights and other electronic goods seems like a good investment.
Several times I was about to buy a flashlight, and then saw the "I don't know if it works" tag line. So I passed. Don't people realize that if they can say "It works", it will probably sell faster, and possibly for more money?
I know that some of these people know very little about flashlights, but just 2 days ago I received a Ranger from a seller on etsy. It was described as: Uses 2 'C' cells, and the black square button doesn't work when you press it, but the regular switch works fine.
The light was a 2x'D' light, and the momentary switch worked just fine. The seller had no idea that you had to push the main switch to the half-way point to allow the momentary switch to work. Personally I was quite happy with both "errors". I like the 'D' cell versions over the 'C' cell lights of that vintage, and was also happy that the momentary switch did work.
So no complaints. . Just some observations. Actually makes finding and buying these lights more interesting!
On a side note, my biggest disappointment so far has been a "Top-Lite" that supposedly was a light provided as a promotional accessory by GM & Ford in their vehicles.
It is cheaply constructed and has one of the most hideous beams I've ever seen. A large center spot, but with several random dark spots in it. I tried 3 different kinds of bulbs and they all gave similar results. So finally I tossed in one of my 50 lumen LED direct replacements and I gave me a incredibly super floody, fairly artifact free beam. So while I perter to keep original bulbs in my vintage lights, I think I'll make an exception in this case.
The Eveready Baby Captain and the Ranger have OK beams. About what you would expect. But the RayOVac Sportsman has an incredible super focused beam. Reminds me of a MagLite on max focus. I live in a semi-rural area and aimed it at some homes on the next block that I know ate a measured 210 meters away, and was actually ably to see some viable illumination. Not a lot, but enough to easily see. At 100 meters it is quite effective.
Now I have a Olight SR52UT that can illuminate nicely at 700 meters. But for a 50 year old flashlight that probably sold for $1.99 at the time to do what this one does is quite impressive to me!!
BTW: Why do so many flashlights look like they were used to hammer nails into 2x4s?
Heading out on vacation. But when I get back I should have 2-3 more lights sitting in boxes waiting for me. At some point I'll do a group photo.
I realize that many of these people sell all sorts of stuff and don't specialize in flashlights. But still I'm amazed at the number of listings I see that say something like: "I don't have any 'D' (or 'C') batteries so I don't know if this light works".
I always think, for $4-$5 dollars you can go to the Dollar Tree (or similar store)and come home with a pack each of 'AAA', 'AA', 'C' and 'D' batteries. Now I don't recommend these batteries for general usage, but to simply keep in a drawer and to use for testing flashlights and other electronic goods seems like a good investment.
Several times I was about to buy a flashlight, and then saw the "I don't know if it works" tag line. So I passed. Don't people realize that if they can say "It works", it will probably sell faster, and possibly for more money?
I know that some of these people know very little about flashlights, but just 2 days ago I received a Ranger from a seller on etsy. It was described as: Uses 2 'C' cells, and the black square button doesn't work when you press it, but the regular switch works fine.
The light was a 2x'D' light, and the momentary switch worked just fine. The seller had no idea that you had to push the main switch to the half-way point to allow the momentary switch to work. Personally I was quite happy with both "errors". I like the 'D' cell versions over the 'C' cell lights of that vintage, and was also happy that the momentary switch did work.
So no complaints. . Just some observations. Actually makes finding and buying these lights more interesting!
On a side note, my biggest disappointment so far has been a "Top-Lite" that supposedly was a light provided as a promotional accessory by GM & Ford in their vehicles.
It is cheaply constructed and has one of the most hideous beams I've ever seen. A large center spot, but with several random dark spots in it. I tried 3 different kinds of bulbs and they all gave similar results. So finally I tossed in one of my 50 lumen LED direct replacements and I gave me a incredibly super floody, fairly artifact free beam. So while I perter to keep original bulbs in my vintage lights, I think I'll make an exception in this case.
The Eveready Baby Captain and the Ranger have OK beams. About what you would expect. But the RayOVac Sportsman has an incredible super focused beam. Reminds me of a MagLite on max focus. I live in a semi-rural area and aimed it at some homes on the next block that I know ate a measured 210 meters away, and was actually ably to see some viable illumination. Not a lot, but enough to easily see. At 100 meters it is quite effective.
Now I have a Olight SR52UT that can illuminate nicely at 700 meters. But for a 50 year old flashlight that probably sold for $1.99 at the time to do what this one does is quite impressive to me!!
BTW: Why do so many flashlights look like they were used to hammer nails into 2x4s?
Heading out on vacation. But when I get back I should have 2-3 more lights sitting in boxes waiting for me. At some point I'll do a group photo.
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