Sabrejet Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 Here's an example of the classic TL-122-C angle-headed flashlight, widely issued and used during WW2. Despite its age, it lit up first time when I loaded it with a couple of Duracells! This plastic bodied version replaced the earlier brass bodied type. It was manufactured by the United States Electric Manufacturing Corporation under the USA LITE brand. The switch was dual function being either on/off or intermittent by pressing the small button for signalling purposes. For this purpose a selection of coloured gels is provided. The modern version of the TL-122 is essentially similar to its predecessor...if it ain't broke, don't fix it! Sabrejet "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
Sabrejet Posted June 23, 2010 Author Share Posted June 23, 2010 Sabrejet "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
artu44 Posted June 23, 2010 Share Posted June 23, 2010 Here my complete set of WWII era TLs: TL122A,B,C,D. The plastic of B model smells real bad so they changed to C model which is identical. Link to post Share on other sites
Sabrejet Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 Here my complete set of WWII era TLs: TL122A,B,C,D. The plastic of B model smells real bad so they changed to C model which is identical. Hi artu44. Very nice collection..thanks for sharing. Sabrejet :thumbsup: "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
justinwjolly Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I had a TL122D flashlight that i had picked up for 5 bucks and it worked, then a friend offered me 25 for it and i sold it to him. have kind of regrated it every since then and seeing your collection Artu kind of makes me wish i had not sold it even more lol. -Justin Link to post Share on other sites
MattOravik Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Has anyone ever seen a white version of one of these? I saw one at an antique store a few years ago but didn't buy it because I had no idea if it was military or not. It looked exactly like the WWII model and I believe it was even marked USA Lite. But no other markings. -Matt. I'm always looking to buy old sets of bagpipes Link to post Share on other sites
Durandal Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 I have a "clear" model in my collection, which I guess could be considered white; It has a red lens ring. If you want to see some pics i can post them up. There's a thread about these lights on here somewhere that has lots of examples... I've been collecting these lights for a quite a while now and actually have examples all models (A,B,C and D. I'm missing a couple with the plastic switches) produced by all manufacturers that I'm aware of, if anyone is interested in pictures. Has anyone ever seen a white version of one of these? I saw one at an antique store a few years ago but didn't buy it because I had no idea if it was military or not. It looked exactly like the WWII model and I believe it was even marked USA Lite. But no other markings. -Matt. Link to post Share on other sites
Sabrejet Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 Hi Durandal. Sounds like a really unusual model...feel free to join in the thread if you have some pics. Sabrejet :thumbsup: "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
willysmb44 Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 Thanks for posting this, as I now know I had a D model as a kid. I think my Uncle had given it to me. I clearly recall it not having the shields on each side of the switch, but it having the extra bottom cap for the lenses and the frame for the lens area to put the filters into but that this cap had a flat bottom to it, so it wasn’t the newer model. For years I had no clue which model that was until now. Sadly, I haven’t seen it in probably 30 years and it has never turned up at the old house, so I guess it got thrown away at some point. I picked up a really nice condition C model the final time I was at Military Marketplace a few years back. I know it works because I tested it but had only bought it for the heck of it, I’m now realizing how much these are going for. The funny thing is that I must have had a dozen at least of the modern variant when I was active duty. I swear every time we got back from the field, I’d find one rattling around inside a Humvee or laying in the motor pool. I gave many of them away and still have at least 3-4 of them around the house. We never used them with anything but the red lens. I remember hearing the NCOs yelling at the enlisted guys to, “Turn out them %$#@ing pumpkin lights!” because not all of us had night vision gear at the time. Lee Bishop Formerly known as "Ratchet 5" with the 2nd Infantry Division (yes, in REAL life) US WW2 War Correspondent collector Link to post Share on other sites
boyt44 Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 I've seen a TL 122 flashlight that look exactly like US ones,but are marked "Boy Scouts", made by USALite,I believe. I've posted this photo before, but here is my 1st model TL122A with a set of sept. 1944 USALite batteries. I have no idea how these batteries have survived all this time without swelling, but there they are. Link to post Share on other sites
artu44 Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 I've seen a TL 122 flashlight that look exactly like US ones,but are marked "Boy Scouts", made by USALite,I believe. I've posted this photo before, but here is my 1st model TL122A with a set of sept. 1944 USALite batteries. I have no idea how these batteries have survived all this time without swelling, but there they are. I bought one of these BS real cheap just to have it. Note nickel finish on some parts. Link to post Share on other sites
autorifle Posted June 27, 2010 Share Posted June 27, 2010 Here is the very first model the TL122 Link to post Share on other sites
Durandal Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Hi all, Here is the white bodied light I was mentioning. It is actually semi-transparent. It's made by GITS and is marked 122 on the side of the head. I believe it to be a civilian model. I've also included a picture of some July, 44 dated batteries. I was lucky enough to get these with one of the flashlights in my collection. They are in great condition, and one of them actually still has a charge, believe it or not! Link to post Share on other sites
Durandal Posted June 29, 2010 Share Posted June 29, 2010 Also, as mentioned above, here is a picture of what I believe to be a complete set of US TL-122 series lights representing every model made by each manufacturer. Please let me know if you are aware of any lights that are missing!! Enjoy! Link to post Share on other sites
Sabrejet Posted June 29, 2010 Author Share Posted June 29, 2010 Great collection Durandal...thanks for sharing! That's what I love about this forum...there's always someone out there who does themed collecting...and often the most unusual things! (For example, I bet there's someone out there who only collects G.I. cutlery!) Ian :thumbsup: "We shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender!" Winston Churchill " Life is what happens to you when you're busy making other plans." John Winston Lennon Link to post Share on other sites
rambob Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Durandal, A VERY nice flashlight collection you have there!! When I saw it I was reminded that I never aquired the TL-122-D to complete my TL-122 flashlight grouping. So I went to EPay and with great luck I won this beautiful example made by BRIGHT STAR for a reasonable $26. It still works great and still has a red lens in the storage cap. My question is, what colors of lens were issued with this light and do the white disks with M-384 printed on them act as some kind of protection sandwich for the red lens to keep it from getting scratched or are they for some other purpose. Bob "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb, bastard die for his country" George Pattons speech to the Third Army. Link to post Share on other sites
rambob Posted July 2, 2010 Share Posted July 2, 2010 Here is the right side. "No bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor, dumb, bastard die for his country" George Pattons speech to the Third Army. Link to post Share on other sites
Durandal Posted July 5, 2010 Share Posted July 5, 2010 Great looking light, rambob. A prime example! I notice that it even has the rubber washer around the base, which in my experience is often badly degraded or missing altogether. I've often wondered the same thing about the filters and the white spacers, unfortunately I haven't been able to find any official sources that answer the question. Here is the right side. Link to post Share on other sites
Old Marine Posted July 13, 2010 Share Posted July 13, 2010 I was reading this interesting post and that is quite a collection you have there Durandal. It's great to see all the variations. Anyway, speaking of variations I found this photo in the LIFE archive. The caption only said that this was taken on the convoy on the way to North Africa. It looks like the Lt scrounged up every flashlight he could find and he seems to checking them for serviceability and logging them in. He has quite an array of flashlights there, Army and Navy issue as well as a few civilian ones. I guess any and all of these might have been used by the troops. Link to post Share on other sites
Durandal Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Very interesting picture!!! Any idea of the date on it? Link to post Share on other sites
Old Marine Posted July 15, 2010 Share Posted July 15, 2010 Flashlight photo LIFE Durandal, here is the link to that photo. It is in the LIFE photo archive on Google. The photo was take on a convoy to North Africa in March 1944. Link to post Share on other sites
drwitte Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I have a brass one of these and it still works! Link to post Share on other sites
UPNATM Posted July 23, 2010 Share Posted July 23, 2010 I have a brass one of these and it still works! In my opinion the Tl-22a's alway work better then the b's. Here is a pic of my little collection..... "The only thing necessary for evil to flourish is for good men to do nothing."Edmund Burke Link to post Share on other sites
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