Why do people collect flashlights?

Because I’m at the ” I Want ” stage of life —— it started around age 5 and still going strong at 57—— :smiley:

Why do people collect flashlights?

Because dogs don't have money!

Besides, only people (and mermaids) collect things.

Because it’s affordable, unlike classic cars…

Why do people collect anything ?

I don't feel like i am collecting flashlights, not getting every model in every color but … well … to each task it's tool and one might have to test several tools to find the most appropriate for each task ;)

I don’t collect lights. They seem to gather around me. I get parcels in the mail and I wonder “what’s this??” only to find it’s (another) torch. It’s like I’m the Flashlight Fairy’s favourite person and she keeps gifting me…. honest…. true story :blush:

Something ready for any eventuality....panic buying for every new model at a cheaper price..

So far I am inventing justifications to buy more lights. One for work (night shift), one on the key chain to always be on me. I live outside the city so several in the house one for every area in the house to go outside with and for when the light goes out (relatively regular event). One big thrower to scan the are outside the house. Two lights in the car, one small with a magnet, one larger but compact thrower in case I am somewhere I need it to look around.

Yeah, if you find yourself using the term “panic buying” for flashlights outside of a disaster or zombie movie, you might have a problem. ;0)

We have bears with cubs in my neighborhood. & big ass bucks, and does with Bambi in tow.
Foxes. Raccoons. Not to mention the hoppy bunnies.

So, when my dog Moose & me go out for that last call to nature before tucking in, I
Take a bright light with us. Used to carry a torch before joining BLF.

Now I collect lights. Go figure.

this is exactly it—not collecting per se, just acquiring things hoping they work or do what we want

i get something, it is close to what i want, i use it, then something better comes along

i’ve just about stopped though with FW3A and anduril UI

wle

Beat me to it. Except for me, it's vintage motorcycles.

Also...,

Necessity.

Fear of darkness that is somewhat ingrained in our collective psyche by evolution.

Lights are useful tools as well as "toys"; a relatively inexpensive way to enable me to exert some control (illuminate) my immediate (dark) environment, out to hundreds of meters with the right device. That's something our far and not-so-far distant forbears, tens of thousands of years removed up until mid last century, would have found very useful for survival, as the cooking/heating/wild-animal-defense fire would only illuminate a few meters out. The same fire also advertised the presence of the individual(s) tending it, something that could often draw unwanted attention from other individuals harboring nefarious intent. Having more ways to satisfy the desire to see what otherwise cannot be seen satisfies a primal defensive desire. Perhaps that's why illuminating the darkness is so satisfying.

Then too...,

Utility.

I'm a tool junkie. Different lights for (sometimes subtlety) different uses.

Hate to admit it but...,

Vanity.

I got something' you don't.

I like to hear others say "Wow!" Cool!" "Lemme see that!" etc.

Last but not least...,

The Fun Factor.

I'm a Technician by temperament as well as by trade. The child within is a Tim The Tool Man Taylor-type gadget freak (More Power grunt grunt grunt...*). Flashlights are cheap, repeatable fun. More lights = more ways for the Technical Child to have fun after the Necessity and Utility demands are met.

slmjim

* - for those across the pond, a trademark utterance of the character played by comedian Tim Allen in the popular TV series Home Improvement.

According to my parents my first word was “lightbulb”, so, I’ve always been facisnated with light. I was also an electronics geek as a kid and LEDs were my favorite component. Back then it was just the dim red or green indicator lights but once we reached the point we’re at today it was inevitable that I would become mildly obsessed.

Maybe it’s because I was a boy scout as a kid or something but I just don’t feel right without a flashlight and a pocket knife on me.

This. I don’t “collect” I “accumulate” and every now and then the discards box yields up giveaways for family and friends.

First I wanted a reliable amber light —- that took me through modifying lights to put in amber emitters, and learning about the different manufacturers, and learning about forward voltages and drivers.

Then I wanted a multiply capable light — that took me into making amber zoomies.

Then I learned about TK and Anduril and I started looking for the most me-friendly UI, which is a stern chase is a long chase situation as Anduril keeps getting better in some lights.

And somewhere along in there I learned about higher capacity cells and started scrutinizing my big steel battery box ….

It’s fascinating.
I don’t know why.
Like cameras; I don’t know how they work; but I like what they do.

Really, it’s my wife’s fault. I asked for a flashlight for Christmas and she bought me four.

But, uh, more reasonably? I have an idea for what I want out of a light, or a mod I want to do, and try to get it right. The failures accumulate, but so do the successes. It’s neat to have a couple different form factors or types of light (like zoomie, thrower, flooder), and now I have a choice of what I want to “wear” each morning and that’s kind of nice.

Way cheaper than collecting guns.

The other night when I was walking my dogs, it occurred to me that, I was carrying 5 flashlights on me. Does that make me a collector? A very old boy out playing? A technician in search of the perfect tool? Someone with OCD for flashlights?

Just ordered a high quality AA headlamp to “complete” my “collection”. OTOH, I might just have to get a BLF A6 or FW or perhaps a TH30 just to get the wow factor my “collection” is lacking. Does this make me a collector?

Who knows. Interesting question. I enjoy being able to turn night into day, have just enough light to avoid obstacles without disturbing others, or just plain see well enough to complete a given task regardless of ambient light levels. For some strange reason I also enjoy the feel in my hands and the looks of certain lights.

Perhaps a good deal of it is just being a very old boy. I remember playing with discarded carbon zinc batteries that the railroad crews would abandon along the tracks in my small town. These were big lantern batteries and were fun to tear apart. Those amazing lanterns put out a lot of light back then. Of course every one of the 5 lights mentioned above would put those lights to shame — even the tiny AAA that is in my pocket always. I just think that is cool.

Now if I were truly a collector I would have to have this:

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/delta-astrolite-6v-sealed-beam-1899780140

With the kind of cell that I used to love to disassemble as a child.

Pretty sure my flashlight proclivity started with something very much like this.

Wade

> lantern batteries

Yeah, I just helped an elderly neighbor buy two 6v batteries for her big old 12v fluorescent earthquake-cache lantern.

And that led me to this

I wonder when someone will build a lantern to use it.

The LED changed the game completely, concerning flashlights. Consumer incandescent flashlights were boring. Surefire and a few other brands made some seriously impressive looking & feeling incandescent flashlights, but for major $$ to acquire. So little choice. Plus, you could forget about affordable miniaturized flashlights that had any decent illumination capability.

Now, with China manufacturing capable of achieving decent quality standards, so many reasonably priced highly capable LED flashlights are available and for not much money. It’s so easy to buy these on a whim. So, collecting is also easily facilitated.

Also, since LED emitter efficiency has achieved a phenomenal level now, compared to 10 years ago, what you buy today doesn’t feel “obsolete” all that fast.

Lastly, for us men, having hand held devices is a kind of “empowerment” thing. We love tools. We love to use them. And illumination is an important tool. I remember years ago finding myself in situations where a flashlight would sure come in handy and being frustrated. This was before cellphones had bright LED’s that could be used for illumination. Those little key chain lights were always so anemic. Today? Unbelievable the amount of micro illumination possible. An Olight i1R that’s half the size of a pinky on a large man’s hand can pump out 150 lumens. I keep one on my car fob key chain. I also pocket an AAA light at all times. Then a larger EDC when I’m heading out in the evening. I’m never without light. NEVER. :sunglasses: