Ever Ready Torch

[emeritus]

The father of one of my school friends was a postie, and I remember his showing me his cycle lamp. The battery was an Ever-Ready 800 coloured red with a notice saying it was the property of the Post Office.

My Miller dynamo used to deliver plenty of output. I spent some time in Wales in my 20's and the rear light bulb used to regularly burn out going downhill at speed until I replaced it by a 6.3V 300mA bulb salvaged from a defunct radio.

[dom10161]

I have this one of these lamps which is black, It is stamped G.P.O on the bottom, so Post Office issue I think. It has a long clip on the back instead of a bicycle bracket. I think this lamp must of been attached to clothing or a bag.

[mike_newcomb]

What I remember of these lamps, back in the fifties when used on bicycles, is how rarely the battery needed replacing. So different in later years.

In the eighties we tested Duracell batteries against regular ones, and while they lasted longer as claimed, maybe 3 times, this was reflected in their price being tripled.

Thus one only 'saved' by reducing the change time.

Good Luck - Mike

[Herald1360]

Well the 800 was the battery that gave you the most in lbs/£ of any common battery. Perhaps because so many were sold? The temptation for a battery manufacturer who also made the lights to tip that balance a bit, well........

[broadgage]

Originally Posted by unabridged

Very tempted to commit a sin of this industry/interest and aquire one of these. sort out the cosmetic side of it, then polish the reflector and modify the housing to accept an LED light fitting....

You can get LED retrofit bulbs that fit any common torch or cycle lamp.
They even do an AC one specificly for cycle dynamos (which are in fact alternators)

[Hybrid tellies]

Originally Posted by dom10161

I have this one of these lamps which is black, It is stamped G.P.O on the bottom, so Post Office issue I think. It has a long clip on the back instead of a bicycle bracket. I think this lamp must of been attached to clothing or a bag.

That looks nice and with that GPO stamp on it, forgive the pun, makes this lamp a bit special. I notice that like my lamp the reflector has lost some of its reflective coat. Wonder if there is anyway of restoring the reflective coating.

[kalee20]

A good plating company will sort it out, as long as there isn't too much pitting.

You want it silver plated - chrome is nothing like as good, surprisingly.

[JWatler]

I haven't used this method myself, but this DIY approach to resurfacing the mirrors of astronomical telescopes (eg Newtonian reflectors) might be worth trying:

http://www.ehow.com/how_6870712_resu...e-mirrors.html

[broadgage]

Originally Posted by mike_newcomb

What I remember of these lamps, back in the fifties when used on bicycles, is how rarely the battery needed replacing. So different in later years.

In the eighties we tested Duracell batteries against regular ones, and while they lasted longer as claimed, maybe 3 times, this was reflected in their price being tripled.

Thus one only 'saved' by reducing the change time.

Good Luck - Mike

The 800 type batteries contained AFAIR two cells each F size, these would have had a capacity of about one and a half times that of a D cell.
The run time as compared to D cells would have been increased by more than the increase in capacity because the larger cell is discharged at a lower rate, relative to its capacity.
Also "back in the days" the bulbs used in torches and cycle lamps were normally of a lower current rating than those used today.
250 or 300ma was more or less standard years ago, with 150 or 200ma lamps also available. 500ma torch bulbs existed but were not the norm.

These days 500ma seems to be about the minimum, with 700/850ma being common.
So the advances in battery technology have been largely swallowed up by smaller batteries and higher current bulbs.

[Hybrid tellies]

[QUOTE=broadgage;562692]

Originally Posted by mike_newcomb

Also "back in the days" the bulbs used in torches and cycle lamps were normally of a lower current rating than those used today.
250 or 300ma was more or less standard years ago, with 150 or 200ma lamps also available. 500ma torch bulbs existed but were not the norm.

These days 500ma seems to be about the minimum, with 700/850ma being common.
So the advances in battery technology have been largely swallowed up by smaller batteries and higher current bulbs.

Very interesting I have just checked the current consumption on my torch fitted with a recently purchased 2.2v pre focus bulb and it's drawing 250ma from the two C cell batteries.

[broadgage]

That seems unusually low for a modern product, and not IME typical.

[jmedley]

Yes, great bike lamp. I had similar on my Rudge "dropped handlebar" bike of 1949.

Guess what I have in the workshop, a torch that takes an Ever Ready No. 8 battery. Don't seem to be able to get the batteries anymore, any ideas?

Jim

[Brigham]

Were F-size cells commercially available? If so, does anyone have a label?

[Herald1360]

Back to buy a lantern battery, open it up and make up a couple of 800 lookalikes using best Blue Peter techniques. (Plus a bit of soldering)

[Brigham]

Originally Posted by jmedley

Yes, great bike lamp. I had similar on my Rudge "dropped handlebar" bike of 1949.

Guess what I have in the workshop, a torch that takes an Ever Ready No. 8 battery. Don't seem to be able to get the batteries anymore, any ideas?

Jim

Just received ten No.8 equivalents this morning. CAMELION is the brand;
www.camelion.com

Supplier is Conrad Electronic;
www.conrad-uk.com

AND! Yes, they are made up of two B-size cells, in a shrink-wrap tube with a plastic outer.

If anyone can supply a hi-res scan of a No.8 or a B-size label, I'd be grateful.

[broadgage]

Originally Posted by Brigham

Were F-size cells commercially available? If so, does anyone have a label?

I dont think that disposable F cells were much sold "loose" but were used mainly for assembling batteries incuding types 800, 996, AD28, and others.

They were sold I believe during WW11 since two F cells could be used in a torch intended for three D cells if the bulb was replaced with a 2.5 volt one.
The reduced light but longer run time being preferable in some cases.

Rechargeable F cells are readily available from RS and others and are becoming more popular, they are used in some modern electricly assisted bicycles.

[julie_m]

I think we over-illuminate nowadays. As we manage to obtain more light from the same amount of electrical energy, so we keep the input the same and get more output. Instead of one 60 watt filament bulb in the middle, we might have four 15 watt compact fluorescents around the same room, each one emitting more light than the original bulb.

It's easy to forget just how little light one candle power is; and that was often all there was.

[D.Finney]

Older versions of these lamps were usually black and were the standard bike lamp till about the late 70s, after that they started to go plastic.

[Hybrid tellies]

I took this old lamp back home during a recent visit to my home village. I walked out along parts of the coastal path including the walk that we use to do every night with the dogs. The old torch worked perfectly without a single flicker. Although not as bright as modern torches the warm white beam easily picking out details such as pot holes boulders mud patches brambles and undergrowth.

[Heatercathodeshort]

Nostagia! Here are a few Ever Ready torches. The yellow dog is well over 60 years old and I had it when I was a very small vile child. The bulb is in it's mouth and the tail is the switch. The '800' red rear bike lamp is not so common. The wooden one minus it's watch glass must be early 20th Century. I always liked selling customers the 1289 'flat' battery. They of course asked for a flat one and I would say I'll have a look in the bin for one.

Regards,
John.