Does anyone know if it’s possible to update a 1950s Winchester flashlight ?
I’ve got a dozen of them mostly the 2 D cell types. Thinking it would be cool to make them useful again. Any information on this will be greatly Appreciated.
Thank you
John
Probably. Give us something to work with, show some pictures. There may already be some LED bulbs to replace the original.
It may be worth something one day if you keep it original. It wont be worth anything if you modify it with modern LED’s. Not too many 80 yr old flashlights out there.
It depends upon whether it has a screw base bulb or the other type you just insert in the holder. The latter are cheap and easily found on eBay. I bought several before the postal rates went up and shipping times were more reasonable. You can still find them for around $2.50 each with free shipping https://www.ebay.com/itm/224698383375 You can find screw base bulbs but they are more expensive https://www.ebay.com/itm/154367061868.
You can also buy inserts that take up the space used for a D cell but have an opening to insert an AA battery in the middle. They weren’t expensive but the ones I bought didn’t really work very well to give a secure fit for the battery contact. Just enter “AA to D battery adapter”in the eBay search box. The ones I bought are still available for a dollar each from China AAA to AA /AA to D/AA to C Battery Converter Tube Battery Size Conersion Adapter | eBay.
I used to have a 5 cell Winchester headlamp that my brother gave me years ago when he found it at a local funeral home undergoing renovation. It had batteries inside the battery pack dating to the 1940s and they hadn’t leaked. The battery pack clipped to your belt. The metal forehead piece on the light eventually broke so I tossed it out. The new LED headlamps with two 18650 batteries at the back of the elastic holder sure are an improvement over the Winchester light!
The nite-ize 55 lumen LED bulb is pretty good, you can get these at home depot or on line.
don’t use alkaline batteries - sooner or later they will leak and ruin your light! Eneloop makes some good AA to D cell adapters (make sure you get the newer type with base that twists off and not the old ones that have an open base). AA Eneloop (watch out for fakes and ones made in China) or Fujitsu NiMH’s are great if you want rechargeables and energizer L91 ultimate lithiums are the best non rechargeable AA’s.