Anyone remember these bicycle lights when you were a youngster?

klrman · 2018-09-16T14:48:12.000Z

Lightbringer:

The beam was/is about like a dinky C-cell hotwire flashlight. Little yellowish disc, barely visible reflecting off asphalt. They were always more to be seen than to see anything. That’s why I had/have mine aimed almost straight forward, only a slight dip. They’re more like constant-wattage devices, load-limited by the winding resistance. Without a load, voltage shoots up sky-high (k·ω, proportional to rotational speed). With increasing load, voltage decreases to just supply the required wattage the device is drawing for the given speed. So absolutely, you could charge even series Li cells as the voltage would rise pretty fast at even moderate speeds, but at a lower current. You’d just need to pre-regulate the voltage to make sure you don’t fry the charging circuit. And if it’s not spinning fast enough, it’ll just slow down the charging. The nice thing about hotwire bulbs is that even at a small fraction of their rated voltage, they’ll still throw decent light. A 6V bulb will start throwing light at 2V or less, albeit not nearly as bright. So just start pedaling at all and it’ll start glowing.

That would be another fun project to start one day. Would be fun to make a prototype and connect it to my handlebar with a USB outlet for charging lights and phones.

goshdogit · 2018-09-16T14:53:17.000Z

I didn’t have one, but Bart did.

klrman · 2018-09-16T14:58:27.000Z

manithree · 2018-09-16T15:26:31.000Z

I had one on my Schwinn Varsity. I just remember all the black tire dust and after wearing out two front tires, taking it off. Being a kid, a tire was a lot of money (and getting a flat because the sidewall suddenly disappeared was no fun), and I decided batteries were cheaper. Don’t remember the light I replaced it with, though.

ETA: Mine was a headlight only, so the generator was supposed to be on the front wheel.

2_DOGS · 2018-09-16T15:31:45.000Z

goshdogit:

I didn’t have one, but Bart did.

This is the way I remember my light.
It worked pretty well going down hill.

BlueSwordM · 2018-09-16T16:39:20.000Z

My father had one on his bike apparently, and just asked him about it, and it was a pain to work with and install.

I’m way younger than you guys and gals, so can’t really vouch on experience.

atbglenn · 2018-09-16T16:56:50.000Z

KawiBoy1428:

atbglenn:

I had a Schwinn Stingray in the 1960’s with one of those generator lights installed on it. Brings back some great teenage memories.

Yep, same on my1969 Schwinn Fastback, light kit, metal flake green with the metal flake green banana seat/handle bar grips that matched, Hi Ride sissy bar too!

The next Christmas I got the Varoom engine/noise maker to put on it, with my first leather motorcycle jacket and Levi Blue Jean boots to boot!

OMG Levi Blue Jean boots… :person_facepalming:

I used to ride mine around with skin tight blue jeans along with Flag Bros Beatle boots. I laugh when I think what that looked like. Oh yeah, my Stingray was a single speed metallic blue model with a white bananna seat. Unfortunately it go stolen.

klrman · 2018-09-16T17:12:11.000Z

atbglenn:

KawiBoy1428:

atbglenn:

I had a Schwinn Stingray in the 1960’s with one of those generator lights installed on it. Brings back some great teenage memories.

Yep, same on my1969 Schwinn Fastback, light kit, metal flake green with the metal flake green banana seat/handle bar grips that matched, Hi Ride sissy bar too! p. The next Christmas I got the Varoom engine/noise maker to put on it, with my first leather motorcycle jacket and Levi Blue Jean boots to boot! p. OMG Levi Blue Jean boots… :person_facepalming:

I used to ride mine around with skin tight blue jeans along with Flag Bros Beatle boots. I laugh when I think what that looked like. Oh yeah, my Stingray was a single speed metallic blue model with a white bananna seat. Unfortunately it go stolen.

I had the ribbed black banana seat with the high handlebars in front all pimped out lol. Can tell we're ancient!

atbglenn · 2018-09-16T17:23:29.000Z

klrman:

atbglenn:

KawiBoy1428:

atbglenn:

I had a Schwinn Stingray in the 1960’s with one of those generator lights installed on it. Brings back some great teenage memories.

Yep, same on my1969 Schwinn Fastback, light kit, metal flake green with the metal flake green banana seat/handle bar grips that matched, Hi Ride sissy bar too! p. The next Christmas I got the Varoom engine/noise maker to put on it, with my first leather motorcycle jacket and Levi Blue Jean boots to boot! p. OMG Levi Blue Jean boots… :person_facepalming:

I used to ride mine around with skin tight blue jeans along with Flag Bros Beatle boots. I laugh when I think what that looked like. Oh yeah, my Stingray was a single speed metallic blue model with a white bananna seat. Unfortunately it go stolen.

I had the ribbed black banana seat with the high handlebars in front all pimped out lol. Can tell we’re ancient!

This is same one I had except mine had those mini fenders, and of course the generator light and a speedometer. BTW, nothing wrong with being ancient! Proud to be born in 1952!

KawiBoy1428 · 2018-09-16T18:15:16.000Z

Mine looked like this…

But with this Sissy Bar…

Vrroom…

Too Coool!

atbglenn · 2018-09-16T18:19:42.000Z

KawiBoy1428:

Mine looked like this…

But with this Sissy Bar…

Vrroom…

Too Coool!

Nice! I’m not sure if the 5 speed model was out when my dad bought me the one I had in 1967. I love the sissy bar!

Streamer · 2018-09-16T18:24:50.000Z

Boy, what a fantastic childhood memory this thread brings up. Had this bike @1964. 3 speed. Santa brought it. (My tail light generator was mounted on rear)

Thanks for the memories !! :+1:

atbglenn · 2018-09-16T18:29:36.000Z

I love that all in one generator/lights! I forgot they made those! Who could forget those 3-speed hubs? Remember they were called English Racers?

teacher · 2018-09-16T18:29:32.000Z

Great thread that brings back fond memories…. thanks!!!

atbglenn · 2018-09-16T18:31:12.000Z

teacher:

Great thread that brings back fond memories…. thanks!!!

This is a great thread. I love talking to people from my generation about this stuff.

Lightbringer · 2018-09-16T18:31:51.000Z

manithree:

I had one on my Schwinn Varsity. I just remember all the black tire dust and after wearing out two front tires, taking it off. Being a kid, a tire was a lot of money (and getting a flat because the sidewall suddenly disappeared was no fun), and I decided batteries were cheaper. Don’t remember the light I replaced it with, though.

Must’ve been misaligned. Never had that problem with mine.

Then again, mine was on the rear wheel, mounted to the frame, less chance of misalignment.

atbglenn · 2018-09-16T18:36:04.000Z

Lightbringer:

manithree:

I had one on my Schwinn Varsity. I just remember all the black tire dust and after wearing out two front tires, taking it off. Being a kid, a tire was a lot of money (and getting a flat because the sidewall suddenly disappeared was no fun), and I decided batteries were cheaper. Don’t remember the light I replaced it with, though.

Must’ve been misaligned. Never had that problem with mine.

Then again, mine was on the rear wheel, mounted to the frame, less chance of misalignment.

Mine was mounted on the front wheel. I never had a problem with wear. If I remember correctly, the one I had was adjusable as far as alignment. BTW, I used to live on my bike. I went everywhere with it.

eas · 2018-09-16T18:37:54.000Z

I remember those lights. I also remember that the way the generator rode/ground on the sidewall offended my young engineering sensibilities. I don’t know how I worked that out; I guess I probably saw a bike fitted with one with obvious sidewall wear.

I also remember being horrified by how much resistance they added. That was enough to put me off.

When I got a bit older, maybe junior high or highs school, I wanted one of the bottom bracket based dynos (it looks like they were made by Sanyo and Soubitez), but not quite enough to buy one. At about the same time, I got a touring bike that had internal wiring for one.

I didn’t actually get a bike light until I was in college. My parents sprung for what must have been an expensive ($50-100 at the time) rechargeable one as a christmas present. It had a housing like a standard bike headlamp, but rather than mounting on the bike, it had a bracket that allowed quick installation and removal from a helmet. The NiCd battery pack was dipped in black Pasti-Dip and connected to a lead from the light using RCA connectors. It was impressively bright for the time. Unfortunately, I think I only had it for a year before managing to loose the battery pack. By then the company might already have been out of business (maybe it was on clearance when my parents bought it). I looked into building a new pack, but the cost of the cells was probably about the same as two weeks of groceries.

I haven’t ridden my bike in years, though I did make some progress in refurbishing it over the last couple years. I still need to install the new brake cables I bought, and get new tires. Once it’s operational, it’s going to be lit up like all get-out!

Streamer · 2018-09-16T18:46:52.000Z

Couldn’t help but doing a search……for those interested… complete front and rear lighting generator kit (except wiring) for under $20

https://www.ebay.com/itm/12V-6W-Motorized-Bicycle-Friction-Generator-Headlight-Tail-Light-Kit/401393174132?hash=item5d74e5c674:g:SjQAAOSwqJRZpF4-

The_Last_Katun · 2018-09-16T18:52:14.000Z

In my house there is one, but it belonged to my grandfather, around 1930; a new piece that never replaced; It’s from the Alumag, I think French. I was about to throw it away many times knowing that I would never use it, but stayed with us; in the end they are memories