Reel Repair by Alan Tani

Here's a light I sold recently on the big auction site. Was a bit surprised at what it went for; it appears there is a niche market for some of these old Mag Lites.

Background:
I picked up this light on a whim, partly because of nostalgia and partly because you just can't beat the smooth, warm, glow of an incandescent bouncing off a modded orange-peel reflector.

Further research on the Vari-Beam led me to a collector's website—-where I learned this particular light is a desirable low serial number from 1980, with a typo of "Paten Pending" stamped on the barrel.

https://maglitehistory.blogspot.com/2017/06/vari-beams.html?m=1

At this point I decided not to modify the light, but rather post it for sale to someone who'd truly appreciate it.

Here are some photos:

That's really cool. How much did it go for?

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on August 19, 2026, 11:25:54 AMThat's really cool. How much did it go for?

Thanks.

It went for a little over $650.

Yes, flashlight geeks (I am sure there are more than a few in the AT Community) are every bit as insane as fishing reel geeks.  I have a buddy that is waaaaaay into it.  Believe it or not, you can drop almost as much coin into modifying a plain old base Maglight (not a rare one like Cbar's) as you can hotrodding a 113H.  And afterwards you have a $300+ Maglight that also can function as a tanning bed or an arc welder... - john

That's wonderful. Glad you recognized it for what it was.

Former coworker used to say

"cada loca con su tema"

Basically, we're all kinda nuts, and there's something for everyone.

Quote from: Brewcrafter on August 19, 2026, 03:51:51 PMYes, flashlight geeks (I am sure there are more than a few in the AT Community) are every bit as insane as fishing reel geeks.

This is true.

They will catch you in the flashlight/camping aisles and talk for hours on end about such things as lumens, lux, hot-spots—-and how their light had zero PWM, but "was a floody neutral-white sending 10,000 lumens into my backyard at night".

I have more reels than flashlights though, so obviously the sanity still holds..

I carried a Mag-Lite while working in the prison.  This was before we were issued batons 

Quote from: Bill B on August 21, 2026, 01:33:32 AMI carried a Mag-Lite while working in the prison.  This was before we were issued batons 

I bet that was to the tune of a 4C Cell, or thereabouts?

Been looking at those aftermarket crenelated bezels; not so much for impact use, but so that the light can stand on its head, and allow for area lighting.

Quote from: JasonGotaProblem on August 19, 2026, 04:15:21 PMThat's wonderful. Glad you recognized it for what it was.

Former coworker used to say

"cada loca con su tema"

Basically, we're all kinda nuts, and there's something for everyone.

Yep. Similar to us reel-heads, I learned that the flashlight guys consider it sublime when one of the hard-to-find lights has its original packaging intact.

Nope, not going down another rabbit hole.

Quote from: CincyDavid on October 21, 2026, 07:06:38 PMNope, not going down another rabbit hole.

But when you do, don't forget to take a light with you.

I did buy 4 big 4-D Maglites I bought for $5 each at a garage sale. I just have them stashed on hangers in the garage and other strategic spots for ready access.

I have a bunch of Maglites stock and modded, but only one remaining 4-D. That one is running on AA batteries using Eneloop adapters. Nice and light, but gives enough runtime to just keep it on a shelf and use as needed.

Sadly the stores here seem to be phasing out Maglites, replacing them with China lithium lights. I cannot find Maglite anymore at the local Home Depot or even Walmart. Miss the colored anodizing they used to come out with around this time of year, for the holidays.

We have multiple Maglites (d&c) around here. I had a preference for the equivalent 4 cell Brinkman in the 90's for it's superior spot.  Sadly solvents or something ate up the rubber switch boot.

Quote from: drumbum on October 22, 2026, 05:28:08 PMWe have multiple Maglites (d&c) around here. I had a preference for the equivalent 4 cell Brinkman in the 90's for it's superior spot.  Sadly solvents or something ate up the rubber switch boot.

Had a couple Brinkmann Legends in 2 and 3 AA. They were tail-clickies and didn't have a boot to dissolve, just rubber grips I took off for a sleeker look. Beam was nice for sure. Dare I say better than Maglite, although you could get almost the same effect with a Mag. It just took multiple tries unscrewing the head and re-focusing the reflector a slight turn at a time, until the bulb was perfectly centered.