Vintage Flashlight Bulb Hunt

August 7, 2011 11:12 AM

How do I find out what kind of bulb my vintage flashlight requires?

I bought a metallic montgomery ward flashlight from a yard sale yesterday for a $1. On the switch it has a patent number, but it reads "PAT.No.I.969.320". I tried looking this up on Google Patents to no avail. I also took the flashlight to a bulb shop yesterday, where her guess was a 12p bulb, but the socket neck was too long for that.

Thanks for your help.

posted by dargerpartridge to Technology (10 answers total)

US Patent 1969320, filed February 1933, shows what I assume is your flashlight, with a normal-looking screw-base flashlight bulb. The patent doesn't give dimensions or part numbers, though.

Perhaps the spring terminal at the bottom of the socket has gotten bent, and a normal flashlight bulb would work if it were bent back to its original shape?
posted by hattifattener at 11:26 AM on August 7, 2011

One approach would be to ask this question over at candlepowerforums.com - it's a community of people who talk about nothing but flashlights all day. You'll want to post a picture if you post your question there. It might help here, too.

The "flashlight collecting" sub-forums have a lot of people interested in older lights.
posted by fake at 11:50 AM on August 7, 2011

Response by poster: Thanks you guys. You're awesome.
posted by dargerpartridge at 12:23 PM on August 7, 2011

Response by poster: Here are some photos:

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6123/6020264988_81b3ae3a29_b.jpg [Socket]
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6004/6020266792_fc58eb8cc6_b.jpg [Angle 1]
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6017/6019718089_7f4e81df70_b.jpg [Angle 2]
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6018/6019719999_f0d75e608b_b.jpg [Side]
http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6012/6020272492_356b892e3c_b.jpg [Bottom]

The lady at the shop also said something about the socket being inclined some other way. I do not know exactly what it needs though.

Any other ideas would be appreciated.
posted by dargerpartridge at 6:03 PM on August 7, 2011

Hmm, I'm not sure I can offer more help based on your pictures, but the people at flashlight museum might have a suggestion. Is it any of these Montgomery Wards lights?
posted by fake at 11:15 PM on August 7, 2011

Ha! I think it's this one.
posted by fake at 11:17 PM on August 7, 2011

Can't find a bulb just yet, but I know about flashlightmuseum from candlepowerforums - at least one of their employees posts there. They should be able to hook you up or point you in the right direction.
posted by fake at 11:19 PM on August 7, 2011

Go to the Candle Power Forums web site, set up a free account (it's quick and I have never been spammed), and then ask them:
http://www.candlepowerforums.com/vb/forum.php
posted by wenestvedt at 9:06 AM on August 8, 2011

OP already did that. No answers yet.
posted by fake at 2:37 PM on August 8, 2011

Response by poster: Hey, guys. Thanks for the link to the flashlight museum. I got in touch with Steve Giterman in Grove City, Ohio through the collector's section of the website. We are currently working on getting the flashlight working. I did learn something though. All 3 D cell requiring flashlights of this era require a number 13 incandescent light bulb. All 2 D cell requiring flashlights of this era require a number 14 incandescent light bulb. We are currently working on getting the candle illuminated, it has a high level of corrosion though.

Tips and tricks to be updated when I get the De-oxit in the mail.

Thanks for all your help
posted by dargerpartridge at 6:52 PM on August 8, 2011 [1 favorite]