If you head “across the pond” — as they say — to the UK, you might hear someone talk about needing a “torch” when it gets dark. While to Americans that could evoke images of villagers holding burning torches as they head to meet a mad scientist — they really just mean a flashlight. Torch is simply the term they use over there, much like how the “trunk” of a car is called a “boot” and how they say “chips” when we call them “fries.” Movie-goers have seen this in the cinema and US troops deployed overseas have often heard it applied to military flashlights (whether the familiar “angle head flashlight” or not) from Brit/UK soldiers.
The British simply kept the name, and this applied to military versions — also called torches, or sometimes “trench torches” as these evolved from lanterns that were used along the Western Front during the First World War. It would be hard not to think that writer/director George Lucas wasn’t influenced by those early military torches when he conceived the lightsaber because those military torches certainly look the part.
Evolution of Military Flashlight Design
While the basic civilian torches remained a long cylinder with a basic phallic shape, the British Army began to update the design. Instead of the long cylinder, it evolved into a boxy device with a lamp on one side as the original LE1 (Light, Electric, No1). It was similar in profile to bicycle lamps of the era and it remained in use throughout the early stages of the Second World War.
The torch was a little bulky, however, and soon the British copied from the German “artas” lamp of the era, which resulted in the LE4 (Lamp Electric No 4). What happened to lamps two and three isn’t exactly clear, but apparently, they didn’t pass muster.
The LE4 proved to be a reliable design. It consisted of a metal box, which featured a lens, reflector, and bulb located on the top center of the front panel. It was fitted with two colored filters that could slide over the light — one in red and one in green. That was to allow for map reading at night without impacting the user’s night vision.
Ed Hallett of the University of Huddersfield, who also runs the website Tales from the Supply Depot: Collecting British Empire Militaria, tells us,
“As far as I am aware the design was a good one and well-liked by all who used it, as evidenced by the fact similar torches remained in service in Eastern European militaries through until the end of the Cold War. Unfortunately like most pieces of the kit, if it worked people just used it and didn’t comment on it, it was only if it was a bit useless that they put pen to paper to moan about it.”
Replicas of the LE4 military flashlight are being made for re-enactors, so collectors should be wary when looking for a real one.
The American Angle Head Flashlight
The United States not only went another way — first by calling the devices flashlights rather than torches — but also in that the U.S. Army developed the angle head flashlight, also known as the TL-122.
As the name suggests, the flashlight, which was developed during World War II, featured a 90-degree angle head. It was a slightly altered version of the angle-head, brass-bodied Eveready Model 2694 Industrial flashlight, which was similar in design to the No. 2697 Boy Scout flashlight that had been introduced in 1927.
It isn’t clear exactly what the “TL” stood for in U.S. military nomenclature, but various sources suggest it could be for “Torch Light.” However, it is worth noting that War Dept. Tech Bulletins of the era, which do refer to it as a “flash light,” never use the term “torch,” while there were other TL-designations for “Tool Linesman,” so it is possible the “TL” may have been for “Tool Light.”
The design was meant to be simple, and these featured a clip that allowed the flashlight to be attached to a soldier’s web gear while the angle of the head cast light forward of the user. This allowed the soldier’s hands to remain free to carry a weapon.
The flashlights were actually fairly lightweight for the era — albeit heavier than what we might expect today — as these were powered by two “D” cell batteries. There were actually four versions, TL-122A through TL-122D, and a number of companies produced these in all variations including USA Lite (United States Electric Mfg. Corp. of New York), Bright Star, GITS Molding Co., and Micro Lite.
The first featured a brass body that was painted olive drab with blackened metal screw caps. That version also fit into armored vehicle flashlight brackets. As the U.S. military began to utilize plastic during the war, the T-122B became the first plastic version and it was introduced in 1943. It was molded in OD but the early plastic formulation resulted in it producing a bad smell and also had a waxy compound on the surface.
Original T-122A and T-122B are especially rare today, and in the case of the latter one the plastics have broken down. Surviving examples are usually extremely brittle.
The TL-122C, which was issued beginning in April 1944, improved upon the design. It addressed the smell and also was considered a more “waterproof” design. The last of the World War II variants was the TL-122D, which featured an extended base that contained lens filters in blue/red/clear as well as a spare bulb. These were first issued in late 1944 and saw use in both Europe and the Pacific.
While original TL-122C/D variants can be found, plastics that are so old are still very fragile. Reproductions of all of these have also been produced, so collectors need to be wary when offered one for sale.
There is actually more interest in these flashlights than one might expect, explained Wouter Has, who runs the website Paratrooper.be, which is devoted to the study of World War II American military equipment.
“About 10 years ago, I first published my article on these TL-122 army flashlights, never expecting to receive so much feedback on it,” said Has. “Almost every month I receive emails from collectors sending photos of new variations or asking questions about the rarity or value of their flashlight, or which type they need for a particular WWII display or mannequin. I started the article to point out some differences, between the models and manufacturers and when and where each type was used, and how to recognize replicas. Over the years, the article grew and this article and others like it about jump wings and gas detection brassards keep bringing new collectors to my website, so I meet like-minded people from around the world. Sometimes I even get questions from TV producers who need details that cannot be found in reference books or online.”
The MX-99/U and MX-991/U
The TL-122D remained in use throughout the Korean War, but the basic design of the flashlight was changed slightly by the Vietnam War. An improved plastic model was introduced as the MX-99/U — and why the designation was changed is also unclear.
First manufactured by GT Price, it also incorporated a second lens ring housed in the base along with lens filters in blue, red, and clear; as well as a spare bulb. It was also powered by two “D” cell batteries and featured a belt/equipment clip. The biggest change over the World War II version was that it was far more rugged, as it was made of an improved, high-impact plastic.
Subsequently upgraded as the MX-991/U — which was also known under the nomenclature “FLASHLIGHT: electric, hand, 2-cell, w/lamp and lens filter, w/o batteries, type I class A (21108) MX991-U” and NSN 6230-00-264-8261. These were produced by GT Price as well as Fulton. It was updated slightly in 1973, where a switch guard was added to prevent accidental operation of on-off switches.
The basic angle-head flashlight has changed little since. However, there are additional lens filters, including in blue, green, amber, red, blackout, and diffusion, which can be used according to the conditions.
Tunnel rats typically armed with a flashlight and a pistol in conducting their mission | Credit: US National Archives
Fulton currently manufactures the flashlight for the U.S. military. It is available in Olive Drab for the U.S. Army and the United States Marine Corps; ACU digital camouflage for the Army; Grey for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Coast Guard; Khaki/Tan for the Army, Navy, and Marines; Woodland Camo for the Army, Navy, and Marines; and Black for law enforcement and military subcontractors.
The MX-991/U has also been copied by other nations, though some commercial versions may not be up to the Mil-Spec requirements. However, Fulton Industries remains the only current U.S. military contractor for the flashlight.
For collectors, finding the vintage ones could be a challenge, noted Wouter Has.
“I cannot possibly afford to collect all of the existing variations myself. For example, with the gas detection brassards, there are only a few variations, but many different stampings inside, and I was trying to determine the meaning of these codes.”
As a result, he still tries to maintain a military flashlight database for collectors to share their knowledge. “With other collectors sending me the codes on their brassards, we all get a better understanding of them.”
Read more about Duty Flashlights.
Modern Angle Head Flashlights
There are several reputable companies making lights reminiscent of the right-angle (90°) military flashlight. We’ll parse through some of them as time allows. If you know of a good one (and can personally attest to its quality), roger up in the comments below.
If you don’t see your preferred make/model/brand below, don’t get your bowels in an uproar. We’ll get more added in as we’re able.
Streamlight Sidewinder
The Sidewinder, another Streamlight angle light, can be pivoted to a full 90° or rotated back to a straight configuration. As you can see below, they make a great helmet light for your chosen brain bucket.
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NEED IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION.DO PEOPLE ACTUALLY REALIZE HOW MANY THINGS THAT THEY USE THAT WERE BROUGHT INTO BEING BY MILITARY INVENTORS.INVENTORS HAVE DONE MORE TO CHANGE AND IMPROVE THE WORLD THAN ANY OTHER CATAGORY OF PEOPLE IN HUMANITY! IT IS THEY WHO HAVE SEPERATED TOMORROW FROM YESTERDAY,AND GIVEN US OUR FUTURE.
Red has been traditionally used for warnings or emergencies, so red is actually better for night vision. In addition, the red light can improve night vision while keeping the profile of soldiers relatively unseen.
In the military, the red flashlight is prioritized using. Because using white light might be spotted by enemies. Red light is ideal because red light doesn’t travel as far as white light.
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