FS Vintage Siebe Gorman Torch

Well, I need to pay for my new twinset sonehow! The torch is a British
Naval, standard-issue, 'deep-sea divers' torch manufactured by Siebe Gorman
& Co. This Siebe Gorman divers torch was standard issue to the hard-hat
diving squadron of the British Navy since the 1950's



It stands on its 4 lens protective prongs at 11" tall, has a white leather
strap, which is copper-riveted around the neck. The torch is manufactured
totally in brass and then chromed, the chroming on this torch is in fairly
good condition, although there is some pitting.



This high quality and highly collectible torch is in great condition and
still works like new. For those who want to use this Siebe Gorman on a dive
or just wants to get it working simply use regular D type batteries.



It is marked:

'SIEBE GORMAN & Co Ltd.

Makers

London

6230-99-942-7885'



http://tinyurl.com/5325j


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Graham Gowland wrote:

>
> This high quality and highly collectible torch is in great condition and
> still works like new. For those who want to use this Siebe Gorman on a dive
> or just wants to get it working simply use regular D type batteries.

And yer asking how much?

BTW, it is essential that these torches be turned on and off while under
water, or the glass will crack.

> And yer asking how much?
>
> BTW, it is essential that these torches be turned on and off while under
> water, or the glass will crack.


I didn't realise they'd be that bright - it has a huge lump of glass for a
lens!
I've put it on ebay for £1 - if you click on the link you should get
there... http://tinyurl.com/5325j


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Graham Gowland wrote:
>> And yer asking how much?
>>
>> BTW, it is essential that these torches be turned on and off while under
>> water, or the glass will crack.
>
>
> I didn't realise they'd be that bright - it has a huge lump of glass for a
> lens!

Yeah, the problem is that the thick glass heats, then when immersed it
cools on the outside and cracks.

>>> BTW, it is essential that these torches be turned on and off while under
>>> water, or the glass will crack.
>>
>>
>> I didn't realise they'd be that bright - it has a huge lump of glass for
>> a lens!
>
> Yeah, the problem is that the thick glass heats, then when immersed it
> cools on the outside and cracks.
>

Well, this one looks all right.

That does raise one question - There seems to be no switch - and when I
spoke to the local historical diving society they said you just put the
batteries in and screw it down to turn it on - there is a bulky brass blob
behind the bulb that I thought might be some sort of switch (Possibly so you
tap it on or off) but I can't seem to get it to do that (I'm not tapping
that hard!)..

TIA


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Graham Gowland wrote:
>>>> BTW, it is essential that these torches be turned on and off while under
>>>> water, or the glass will crack.
>>>
>>>
>>> I didn't realise they'd be that bright - it has a huge lump of glass for
>>> a lens!
>>
>> Yeah, the problem is that the thick glass heats, then when immersed it
>> cools on the outside and cracks.
>>
>
> Well, this one looks all right.
>
> That does raise one question - There seems to be no switch - and when I
> spoke to the local historical diving society they said you just put the
> batteries in and screw it down to turn it on - there is a bulky brass blob
> behind the bulb that I thought might be some sort of switch (Possibly so you
> tap it on or off) but I can't seem to get it to do that (I'm not tapping
> that hard!)..

This particular torch was made in both a switched and switchless
version. Some (all?) of the versions with switches lacked the "prong"
lens protector. The switch is on the tail of the torch.

Which, of course, raises the question as to why SG would be so adamant
about never turning on the light on the surface. I expect the practice
was to have a tender arm the light immediately before descending and get
it immersed before the glass heated.

Phil Thurtle of the HDS-UK has been reducing a lot of old SG catalogs to
CDs. You might contact him and see what he has available.

m