[Vintage] Diamond Light Industries “Hi-Gain 250” – The 1980s Maglite Competitor you might have forgotten

Hey r/flashlight,

I wanted to share a piece of history from my collection: the Diamond Light Industries "Hi-Gain 250".

Based in San Carlos, California, Diamond Light was a direct competitor to the then-young Maglite and Streamlight during the late 70s and 80s. While others went for bigger batteries, Diamond focused on "Gain" – maximizing light output through precision engineering.

The Specs:

• Bulb: 4.8V / 0.3A Incandescent (approx. 1.44 Watts).
• Output: Rated at "250 Candlepower" (internally often equivalent to 50–100 lumens—which was blindingly bright back then!).
• Tint: Beautifully warm, yellowish incandescent glow (far from our modern 6000K LEDs).
• Battery: 4x AA cells.

The Tech: The "Hi-Gain" series used specially calculated reflectors and early "lighthouse-style" patented optic lenses to throw a beam much further than your average hardware store light.

Patent 4,337,659: Granted in the early 80s (around 1982), this patent focused on the mechanical construction and superior sealing of the light. It feels incredibly rugged and tactical for its age—it was built to be a professional tool.

Does anyone else remember these? It’s amazing to see how companies like Diamond Light pushed optical efficiency long before the LED revolution.

#vintageflashlight #flashlighthistory #diamondlight #incandescent