ORILUX WWI TRENCH TORCH For Sale
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ORILUX WWI TRENCH TORCH:
$198.12
This item wasdiscovered in a box left-over from clearing my father’s house several years agoand I had no idea what it was until I googled “The Orilux”. This revealed thatit was a WWI trench torch usually issued to officers. I had some ancestors whoserved in WWI, but none of them were officers, so where this came from I don’tknow.
I decided notto try any refurbishment, so the following description is of it in its presentcondition. Please see also the photos which show some of the minor blemishesmentioned below
The leathercase seems to be in remarkably good condition for something over 100 years old.There are minor scuff marks, notably around the bulge over the lens and on thebottom rear of the hinged top, but none very serious and probably easy improvedwith suitable leather polish. The leather straps are all intact although the tongues of thoseat the bottom of the case are curled up but could probably be easily broughtback to life with the addition of appropriate leather conditioner.
The outer casingof the torch itself is virtually unmarked except for some rubbing at thesides caused during putting it into or pullingit out of its case. The top buttons both move freely, but some of the plating next to the smaller button and on thebutton itself is missing. The bottomclips are intact and the inside looks as if it’s never actually had a batteryinserted. There does not appear to be any corrosion on the terminals (apologiesfor the photo being out of focus, but it does confirm that the terminals seemclean and non- corroded). There is a bulb in the light casing, but because thereis no battery I don’t know if it’s ok, and likewise, whether or not the buttons on the topdo actually work, although I would expect them to.
The more I inspectit, the more I wonder if it’s ever actually been used. It seems to lack thewear and tear you’d expect from a life in the trenches.
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