An LED Light May Be Replacing a Circa 1942 Single Cell USN Beacon Light
This is a circa 1942 1 Cell USN Beacon light.
These Single Cell Beacon lights were part of the military gear and were widely used at least through the 60s when I was using these affixed to my lifejacket.
During our night maneuvers aboard the USS McDonough DLG in the Cuban blockade we all had to wear our lifejackets without beacon lights turned off or ready to be put on an instant.
The light was very small and could only be seen on a clear night.
It was the only point of light that was available for rescuers searching for anyone falling overboard or who had been left in the water after loss of ship.
Even though they gave out very little light, and they would often get waterlogged after several hours in the water and go out, they still gave us a lot of confidence.
After all, at that time they were all we had.
We knew that if we had gone over the side we would have been found because the beacon light was on.
Since leaving the US Navy in 1964, I have thought of that little beacon light when ever we were sailing in the Narragansett Bay off Rhode Island.
We did little night sailing and any beacon or rescue light that I had was stored on board my 25' sailboat.
We had a flotable emergency locker with everything for surviving any sea emergency.
However we did not have any individual lighter for each personal flotation device.
I have since been working with LED lighting, I have found that one of these LED lights reminds me very much of this Navy beacon light.
This light is approximately the same size and has three LEDs giving a bright steady light powered by three small batteries.
It is in a plastic case with water seals making it very seaworthy.
The light beam will last reliably for over 12 hours submerged in water, still shining brightly.
It is small enough for someone to put in a handbag or a backpack without having to take a lot of space.
It gives a bright light.
It does have a wrist strap that could be looped through any strap or around any small object.
It also has a magnetic base which will mount to any piece of metal near what you are working on.
I have found that this is the perfect little light to strap onto my and my family's lifejackets and it makes me happy to have been able to remember the little beacon light I used to wear in the Navy in the early 60s.
As technology keeps improving, many of our older ideas keep improving along with it.
This is a very good example of that.
A small beacon light that will last either in or out of the water is just one other little thing that is a great boost for our everyday life.
These Single Cell Beacon lights were part of the military gear and were widely used at least through the 60s when I was using these affixed to my lifejacket.
During our night maneuvers aboard the USS McDonough DLG in the Cuban blockade we all had to wear our lifejackets without beacon lights turned off or ready to be put on an instant.
The light was very small and could only be seen on a clear night.
It was the only point of light that was available for rescuers searching for anyone falling overboard or who had been left in the water after loss of ship.
Even though they gave out very little light, and they would often get waterlogged after several hours in the water and go out, they still gave us a lot of confidence.
After all, at that time they were all we had.
We knew that if we had gone over the side we would have been found because the beacon light was on.
Since leaving the US Navy in 1964, I have thought of that little beacon light when ever we were sailing in the Narragansett Bay off Rhode Island.
We did little night sailing and any beacon or rescue light that I had was stored on board my 25' sailboat.
We had a flotable emergency locker with everything for surviving any sea emergency.
However we did not have any individual lighter for each personal flotation device.
I have since been working with LED lighting, I have found that one of these LED lights reminds me very much of this Navy beacon light.
This light is approximately the same size and has three LEDs giving a bright steady light powered by three small batteries.
It is in a plastic case with water seals making it very seaworthy.
The light beam will last reliably for over 12 hours submerged in water, still shining brightly.
It is small enough for someone to put in a handbag or a backpack without having to take a lot of space.
It gives a bright light.
It does have a wrist strap that could be looped through any strap or around any small object.
It also has a magnetic base which will mount to any piece of metal near what you are working on.
I have found that this is the perfect little light to strap onto my and my family's lifejackets and it makes me happy to have been able to remember the little beacon light I used to wear in the Navy in the early 60s.
As technology keeps improving, many of our older ideas keep improving along with it.
This is a very good example of that.
A small beacon light that will last either in or out of the water is just one other little thing that is a great boost for our everyday life.
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