WWII USMC USN Aviator's FLASHLIGHT ("U.S.N. / Fulton") WORKS! Mint NOS Unissued

Description

WWII USMC USN Aviator's Flashlight
(
"U.S.N. / FULTON MFG. CORP. / WAUSEON, O."
)
Absolutely untouched
MINT "NEW OLD STOCK" UNISSUED
condition! Impossible to 'upgrade' this light.
-
ZERO
scratches, corrosion, or
ANY
evidence of wear, storage or otherwise!!
- The Interior Copper wiring is
SPOTLESS!!
- The
REFLECTOR GLOBE
is glistening!!
-
ZERO
crazing to the
CLEAR "FISHEYE" LENS!!
- This is a large, easy-to-hold, 7 1/4 inch
WORKING
(2
"D" Cells)
"U.S.N."
marked flashlight Flashlight that was carried by
MARINE
and
USN Carrier
Pilots/Aviators.
This is a
LATE-WAR
piece of equipment, and a
WELL-DESIGNED
one at that! (This is the wartime iteration of
FULTON's
current Navy model N41 6230-00-270-5418
which is very similar, apart from the switch's location.)
- This is a
SCARCE WARTIME
variant to locate...
ESPECIALLY in MINT condtion!
This is
NOT
to the be confused with
FULTON's "Bureau of Mines"
Flashlight or their superficially similar post-war military and commercial models...or the similar
U.S.N.
model made by "
DELTA ELECTRIC"!
- The
"Fisheye" LENS
creates a diffuse beam,
PERFECT
for examining flight plans, maps on the thigh-clipboard inside the cockpit.
- This model is completely
WATERPROOF!
Very well-made of heavy molded
Battleship Gray PLASTIC
with waterproof
RUBBER GASKETS
beneath the
BATTERY CAP
and the Heavy-duty Plastic
LENS CAP
.
There is even a
RUBBER SEAL
beneath the
Blued STEEL SWITCH.
- Marked on the Body as well as the Battery Cap with the contractor's name,
"FULTON MFG. CORP. / WAUSEON, O."
- A sturdy Blued Steel Wire
HANGING LOOP
folds into a recessed channel in the
BATTERY CAP.
Attached to it a a
USN/USMC-issue
1/4 inch
Cotton Rope
with metal-seized ends, called a
"TIE-TIE,"
used by Marines and Naval Service personnel for securing rolled clothing in a Haversack or Seabag.
*****
Background from
'pararaftanr2'
on the mil.forum, contributed September 23, 2010
The January
1945 USN Catalog Of Aeronautical Material, Spare Parts And Equipment
lists a
Waterproof Flashlight.
The description states: "
Mark II, IV, VII rafts
to be supplied with plastic 2-cell light with lamp, but without batteries. Shipwreck kit will contain one flashlight with spare bulb. Two batteries individually wrapped and supplied"
. The stock number is listed as 17-F-13550. I have also read that these were
made available to fliers as part of their nighttime survival gear as the beam was more powerful than that provided by the small single cell lights that attached to the Mae West.
Here is what I believe to be an example of the 2-cell plastic light worn by a
VF(N)-90 pilot aboard U.S.S. Enterprise, circa March 1945:
*****
BACKGROUND: FULTON MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (now FULTON INDUSTRIES, INC.) of Waseon, Ohio
Organized in 1939,
Fulton Industries Inc.
is located in (Wauseon) Northwest Ohio, and services a wide variety of industries with quality industrial and
MIL-Spec
flashlights
, as well as deep drawn and custom formed metal stampings, subassemblies, and welded assemblies. Most of our customers are
Fortune 1000
companies.
As one of the largest flashlight manufacturers in the U.S
.,
Fulton produces a complete line of heavy-duty, industrial, consumer, government and military flashlights. Fulton also manufactures safety approved, waterproof, specialty inspection and portable bow and stern lights for the marine market
.
Expertise gained in the manufacture of
flashlights
has also made us specialists in deep drawn stampings and assembly work. In these areas, we serve the automotive and appliance industry.
“It is our policy to produce quality products; On time; At competitive prices; to satisfy our customers expectations and continually improve.”
FULTON
heavy-duty industrial flashlights ensure a long life in tough, industrial environments. The flashlights are designed to excel in a variety of special circumstances. If you need a floodlight, spotlight, ring hangers or other options, we manufacture your light.
Shock and corrosion-resistant bodies make them outstanding in an industrial environment. Some models include a spare bulb and holder. All come with a heavy duty switch and switch guard.