Why do you collect flashlights?

[KITROBASKIN]

Detailed Collector's Guide!

 

[scalpel_ninja]

…buried under a pyramid of flashlights like a 21st century pharaoh I'm not entirely sure.

I would ask to be rested in a flashlight-shaped sarcophagus.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

I would ask to be rested in a flashlight-shaped sarcophagus.

How about just having your ashes interred in something like a 6D Maglite.

 

[scalpel_ninja]

How about just having your ashes interred in something like a 6D Maglite.

I like your thinking!

 

[chainsolid]

It' Hobby

My first flashlight "Surefire 6P"

 

[desert.snake]

Collection of various things, including flashlights distracts from thoughts about the meaninglessness of life. Joke. They are beautiful and useful, beautiful and useful, beautiful and useful...

 

[bykfixer]

Around the time I joined CPF I realized there was a whole industry of early police flashlights that'd fallen off the face of the earth decades before. Gathering information and examples went from being an occasional thing to a serious interest, and now a curated reference collection. Whether this turns into a detailed collector's guide or being buried under a pyramid of flashlights like a 21st century pharaoh I'm not entirely sure.

Over the years I had tried to fill in blanks too. Some said "write a book". I said "I did, it's on CPF". I used your thread as a go by at times. Yours is a detailed list of available kinds.

The ABTOMAT Police Flashlight Collection

The other day I realized I hadn't been active in the scene for a while, and people from half a decade ago were still waiting for pics of these lights. So, to kill two birds with one stone, I've started photographing my entire flashlight collection for the benefit of CPF. I'll be slowly posting...

www.candlepowerforums.com

Mine was an attempt to discuss the players who built the lights you've chronicled.

https://www.candlepowerforums.com/threads/the-vintage-california-cop-light-company-thread.434295/

I've had help from a couple of other collectors along the way

 

[letschat7]

It' Hobby

My first flashlight "Surefire 6P"

How did you not have a dodgy AA or D light before that? Also with not using lights that are trash you can't fully appreciate a Surefire.

The 6P is far from perfect. People will flame this but they can look up all the trillions of mods people do to improve it. The only thing most people like about it consistantly is the body having changed every other part. Some mod that too to take bigger cells.

 

[Dave_H]

I am not a collector per se, the flashlights just seem to "collect themselves".

In a lot of cases a new light will have a feature or attribute which is a bit different from what I have, so there is overlap. In other cases the price is low and (too) hard to resist; may come in multiples some of which I have given away.

Then there is the "free alkaline recovery/use-up" which creates demand for more small flashlights and lanterns all over the house. Sometimes one gets damaged from leakage, often it can be cleaned up but not always, so lots waiting in the wings...

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

Well now, there is collecting...and then there is accumulating. IMO, the first is deliberate, while the second is...well, not so deliberate. I don't "collect" flashlights so much as accumulate better and better flashlights for my needs. I haven't really purchased any lights to just put on a shelf and look at, as a "specimen" of that particular light. That would probably be a rabbit hole that I should not go down, although I am sorely tempted, especially with some Maglites.

 

[letschat7]

If you want to get into Maglites now is the time.

 

[IMA SOL MAN]

If you want to get into Maglites now is the time.

Yes, I know.

 

[letschat7]

NOS or current!

 

[Brokenarrow]

I have no idea on how this got started but after a year I am up to about 35 lights and the interest to buy more just will not go away.....

 

[letschat7]

I have 130ish. When you have all you want only 1 or 2 interest you per month unless you get active in hobbies or work that require specialised lights.

 

[M@elstrom]

I purchase lights for legitimate use, something better comes along so I purchase (or build) that, they just seem to multiply after a while... then there is the I don't need that but isn't it beautiful light(s)

 

[Chauncey Gardiner]

Because I can't afford Hattori Hanzō's swords.

 

[ampdude]

Because they are awesome. They remind me a lot of the early times of my life in the early 2000's when things weren't so messed up in the world. And they had a lot better quality than what you can buy nowadays for the same money. Very little out there now interests me these days.

 

[Mr. Flashlight]

Not a huge collector of flashlights.....but do have a few that I've collected over a period of time.
My problem is though that once I start getting into something that really peaks my interest.....I start collecting.
I started collecting vintage audio equipment, vintage camping lanterns and flashlights...nothing excessive on either but do have a small humble collection of each.
So yes I have an obsession but not to the point where it's overwhelming.

 

[Jean-Luc Descarte]

Lizard brain likes pretty light.