Was showing my Mom an antique thrift store and thought I saw something cool, reached down and moved this long metal tube out of the way. Realized it wasn't what I thought it was then realized I was holding a really long 6 cell flashlight. "Ohhh this baby is coming home with me" I thought to myself before even fully inspecting it. Then the I spotted the black one, just sitting there, lonely, waiting to be loved. Grabbing it, I immediately was giddy at the brass (bronze?)plate and bakelite housing. "Oh you must come with me,too! I have absolutely no idea what you are, but you are neat and very very old" I once again thought, and realizing I was having a conversation with a flashlight… And myself.
No clue what the chrome one is, I have seen them before but it's a 5+1 cell. There's an extension of sorts on the end. Very solid, and very clean. 1960s maybe?
The black one has that logo "United States Bureau of Mines". "Permissible flashlight"
Model f-91
Approval 606 (which I read means 1952 or earlier" the brass plate makes me think pretty early though.
Thought I would share, some of you might find it neat. I'm excited, I have one other 1930s era flashlight these will go next to once cleaned up a little.
by Mayday-J
