RESTORATION OF ANTIQUE EVEREADY FLASHLIGHT AND FINDING AN OBSOLETE BULB FOR IT

[chief38]

Sunday I was at one of my friends homes and his 90+ year old neighbor had just moved to Arizona to be with his family. The people who purchased the house bought it with all contents and the agreement was the new owner would dispose of any unwanted stuff. I am not normally a "garbage picker" but could not help but notice an antique flashlight sitting on top of the pile of stuff and so I grabbed it. I LOVE old things!

Other than the fact that the bulb was missing and it was coated with grease and grime, it appeared in descent condition so I took it. After cleaning it up I noticed all the Chrome Plating had come off the Reflector and so I bought some Primer & Chrome paint and will restore it as soon as it stops raining here. The other thing is it is a 5 D cell Flashlight (7.5 Volts) and has a E10 screw-in type base which is impossible to find in any Hardware or Home Improvement store - I tried!

A search on the Internet paid off as I found a Company that has all types and configurations of old style light bulbs and they had exactly what I was looking for. At a whopping .33 cents each bulb I bought half a dozen. The bulb also has a larger than typical Globe (9/16" rather than a standard 7/16") and is a higher wattage bulb. This Flashlight has a rather large reflector and lens and should be rather bright when all finished. BTW I believe the Model number is Eveready #2552 and is worth roughly $50 bucks in the excellent condition it is in - at least that is what I read on the Flashlight Museum website. Here are a few pictures and a link to the Bulb Company just in case anyone needs a bulb not readily available.

While certainly no hi-tech or tactical flashlight, I really like this thing and in fact I believe it is made out of Bronze or Brass - not steel Might be plated but I should try a magnet. Can't wait 'till the bulbs come!

STANDARD, STANDARD FLASHLIGHT BULBS, STANDARD FLASHLIGHT LAMP, STANDARD FLASHLIGHT LAMPS

 

[bigwheelzip]

Good work. Always like to recycle.

If in search of the odd light bulb, Bulbtronics Inc. in Farmingdale has been known to have quite a selection.


Lamps, LEDs, Batteries, & Lighting Equipment | Bulbtronics

 

[Onomea]

I like that, Chief!

Fixing up, restoring old things, to servicable condition, is one of life’s small, but very worthwhile, pleasures.

(Very, well... soul satisfying ... in some sort of instinctual way.)

 

[DeathGrip]

I woulda grabbed it too. Nice find.

 

[snuffy51]

I love old things too, you can ask my wife. The flashlight is cool.

 

[chief38]

BTW the Flashlight was built in 1950 according to the research I've done, 68 years ago!!

 

[snuffy51]

The flashlight is one year older than I am. probably a good un'.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Many Thanks for the info. I have a Eveready 2 cell that needs a bulb.

 

[Onomea]

BTW the Flashlight was built in 1950 according to the research I've done, 68 years ago!!

Got me beat by two years.

 

[DWalt]

My first stop would have been eBay. Have found many items there when I couldn't anywhere else.

 

[Texas Star]

Does Ray-O-Vac still make their classic Sportsman flashlight? I' ve had several.

 

[soFlaNative]

That cleaned up nice.
Think I recall my FP&L lineman uncle using one of those in the 60's.

 

[JayFramer]

VERY cool flashlight! Swell that you found a bulb for it, too!

 

[vrichard]

Here is another one from 1950,
Made (BOND)USA
Solid 22K Copper
Dick

 

[Rpg]

Great old flashlight!!

I’m old enough to have used one just like it camping in the 1950’s.

 

[rubiranch]

Sorry I don't have a better picture. I had to crop this one quite a bit.

When I got it back in 2008 from my dad it still had the original battery in it that was dated 1946 if I remember correctly.

I bought a new battery when I got it and it still works great even after 10 years. I have used it very little but it still comes on when I flip the switch.

Vrichard - that is a way cool copper flashlight.

 

[Florida Guy]

To o/p... cool flashlight. Old style is so classic looking - not like today's plastic throw-away flashlights.

This is my one-and-only old flashlight...
not sure what year it was made.

 

[Abbynormal]

I haven't seen one of those since about 1968!

 

[muddocktor]

Cool old flashlight, Chief. BTW, have you thought of looking for a screw base LED replacement bulb for that cool old light? It would put out more light than an incandescent replacement bulb and probably give better battery life too.

I did a search for a critter like I described and came up with this link to 2 different bulbs that might work in your old light. Here's the link, if you are interested.

<<<Link to screw base LED bulbs>>>

 

[chief38]

My first stop would have been eBay. Have found many items there when I couldn't anywhere else.

Ebay was my first stop but finding the correct bulb was not easy as there was no bulb in it when I got it and I really did not know the correct voltage & wattage. I would have thought 7.5 volts would have been correct since there are 5 D cells, but apparently 6.2 V is what they said was recommended as battery's don't stay at full voltage long. The wattage would have been a complete guess. Purchasing on ebay would have been a hope and pray method. The Company I found (Bulb Town) knew exactly what I needed and informed me of what wattage to use. Not only did they have it in stock, but they were so cheap it was a joke - .33 cents each!