Posted 4 years ago
dav2no1
(820 items)
Flashlights - WWII BMG TL-122- D & UP
Picked up a couple flashlights today at a sale today for $1 a piece.
First is a military flashlight, TL-122-D. No extra lenses in the storage compartment. does have a name inscribed into it. Chris EU64- I think its eu64? Hard to read. These where isssued in 1944.
Second flashlight is a very strange and not very appealing shape. Appears to be made of Bakelite? The shape and absence of a reflector makes me wonder.... maybe this was designed for a specific task? Like possibly reading a document in the dark without being detected? Maybe an inspection light for ....jewelry or? Gun bore light?
This flashlight is marked UP, both on the end of the flashlight and inside the top of the flashlight. It's also marked made in the USA. So far I haven't been able to find any information on this flashlight or the company that made it. If someone has a different idea or has information about this flashlight please leave a comment.
In World War II the standard Army flashlight was the TL-122, with a 90 degree angle head. There were four versions, TL-122A through TL-122D:
TL-122A. Brass body flashlight in service before World War II. Painted olive drab with blackened metal screw caps over the lens and the base. TL-122A fits armored vehicle flashlight brackets.
TL-122B. First plastic flashlight, issued September 1943, OD color (photo, left). Problems with early plastic formulation that smelled bad and had a waxy compound on the surface.
TL-122C. Improved plastic, moisture proof design, issued April 1944.
TL-122D. Extended base containing lens filters in blue/red/clear plus spare bulb. Issued late in 1944.
The military light is something I think most of us has owned or used during military service. Now the little guy reminds me if the flashlights out teachers had in school years ago. They were used like modern laser pointers are used today. The teacher would shut all the lights off and pull the blinds. Then a slide show would begin and the teacher would direct our attention to certain things with the light beam. Not overly effective but it kind of worked.
They were called, Projector Screen Flashlight Pointers if memory serves me correctly
Interesting. I tried to search using those parameters and didn't find anything. All the pre laser pointers were big flashlights. Closest thing I've seen is a French flashlights that look very similar.
I have seen them 50 or 60 years ago. I found both reference and images of various designs on a site that was pre- laser pointer archives or similar site name. The large projector pointers were also there but those struck me as similar to the flashlights used on flight lines with aircraft at night.
Nice. I have one of the green ones, somewhere. No idea where I got it. Maybe during my service? Now I have to figure out where it is. It still has its extra lenses, two or three of them, I think. Red, prismatic and blue. It survives, because I never really liked it so it ended up in a box somewhere. It may not be found until my estate sale.
I have another military flashlight somewhere also. I remember playing with it as a kid. Didn't seem to have a lot of light output. Probably was part of dads military stuff. Dad retired from the Air Force in 72.
Those are great fun. I have a black version with extra lenses around here someplace.