So I went to the post office today...

So I went to the went to the post office today. Now, I’ll admit that this normally wouldn’t merit a post on BLF. However, in this case, a few members have been dropping hints in my PM inbox that I should be expecting a package. A package of what, you might ask? Well, our one and only Old-Lumens sent me the following hint:

So I got to thinking, “Hmm, a flashlight that takes AA sized batteries… What could it be?” Possibly one of these beauties?



Or one of these, perchance?

(Yes, that really is a 3xAA light, at least according to DX)



Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. I would be utterly thrilled and quite touched by the mere fact that anybody would take the time and effort and expense of sending a gift of any sort to a random administrator of a random website that they’ve never met in person. So I would have been content to receive even an envelope full of sand (although I doubt they would have let that pass through customs). So imagine my surprise to find this waiting for me at the post office:

Something big, no doubt. But a cheap $3 flashlight that takes AA size batteries? Why bother with such a big box? Maybe while I was busy administering BLF the ANSI or ISO folks changed the size of AA size batteries to something approximately the size of a 12V car battery?



So you can imagine my surprise when I opened the box and saw this:

Wow! This is looking good. Really good! I decided to torture myself a little bit more and investigate the most obvious part of the gift first, a sweet Nitecore Intellicharger i2. Although I hate to admit that my $5 Omnipotent Power PR-838 AA charger is decidedly less than “omnipotent” and a bit of an eyesore, this Nitecore charger is fantastic. It claims to charge pretty much any battery chemistry except the aforementioned lead-acid car battery, and it looks like a top quality device, in contrast to the chintzy piece of junk that I was using before to charge my Eneloops. And as if this wasn’t enough, the masterminds of this fantastic gift were even thoughtful enough to include 4 Efest 14500 Li-Ions to put in the new charger.

Don’t ask me how they knew that I don’t even own 14500 batteries and have been wanting to try them out, but this was an incredibly thoughtful and fun addition to my hobby. But, this brings up another question: Why would they send me 14500 Li-Ions to power a $3 Powerlight? Maybe they thought I liked the smell of burned LEDs? As it turns out, I kind of do… But at any rate, my hopes of receiving a 15th $3 Powerlight for my collection were dashed to pieces when I turned to opening the other mysterious object enshrouded in bubble wrap…

Yep, this is it! The one and only, crazy, unique, duodecuple Nichia 219 emitter, quad-14500, quad-MiniMag mini-behemoth phenomenon that epitomizes the art of fine hand craftsmanship— straight out of Old-Lumens’ workshop.

INCREDIBLE! I am so thrilled to have received this flashlight, if indeed it can be referred to by such a common term. As Old-Lumens said in his development thread, it actually does fit comfortably in the palm of my hand, and feels very balanced. It’s really nice and short. And I’m pretty sure it will handily trounce the likes of a Skyray King or any other multi-emitter flashlight out there. This thing is INSANELY, PAINFULLY bright on the highest mode (it has 3 modes). I’m currently waiting for that pesky yellow ball of light in the sky to go away so I can test out Old-Lumens personal version of the Sun in the dark. But meanwhile, I honestly have to say that I am seeing spots after looking at the beam of this light against a white wall in bright daylight near a window. It’s THAT bright.

What an incredibly gesture of friendship and kindness from Old-Lumens. I am genuinely touched that he would have packed up and sent off this one-of-a-kind, genius-inspired magnum opus into my hands. I am deeply indebted and humbled. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

awesome! so glad you got this one sb 8)

Congratulations! You definitely deserved this light as a thank you for running this forum so well!

Congratulations!

-Garry

congratulations… creative and generous people on this BLF definitely makes this place a fun and interesting site to visit everyday :slight_smile:

Congrats. May O-L forever reign as the High CRI Master Blaster.

Thanks for the posting. It was a joy to read.

That is awesome. I was so confused reading the sell thread as to who bought it, but I’m glad it went to you.

Enjoy it!

Enjoy the light sb! That one certainly got to you pretty quickly! :)

nothing better than to see a hopping sb admin :bigsmile:

No one here more deserving.

Nice post! And a great light for great admin.

The generosity of members on this forum are just amazing!
Enjoy the light… high CRI pocked sun.

There must off been a mistake made. I thought they were coming to me? Cheers guys.

@sb It just shipped it. Smile

Everyone who has donated, are the ones that are are to blame.Wink The forum decided to send you this light and they got it for you, so cheers to everyone who put in the pot for your gift. I enjoyed making it and I enjoyed sending it on to you.

hope you enjoy it as much as we all enjoy the forum!

Enjoy!

its great that this one of a kind beaut. ended up in sb’s hands

Congrats and enjoy a one-off by O-L!

Congrats, sb!

sb,

Happy Birthday!

Oh, wait, it’s not your birthday? Sorry :)!!

Jim