Old Firefighter's Headlamp?

[David Conwill]

This is another old friend from the garage. My babysitter gave this to me when I was in first or second grade. She claimed it was a miner's headlamp, but it's stamped "WEST FIRE EQUIP CO" which leads me to believe otherwise. Oddly, it's also stamped "U.S. GOVERNMENT." War surplus perhaps?

The Whole Shebang

INSERT CELLS CAPS
DOWN ON ONE SIDE
UP ON OTHER SIDE

U.S. GOVERNMENT


FORRESTER
NO. 6X1600
WEST FIRE EQUIP CO.
SAN FRANCISCO USA
JUSTRITE

Note the tiny switch on top.

-Dave

 

[BellyTank]

Coincidentally, I just stumbled across one on eBay.

Justrite Miner's Light.

#140248641763


B
T

 

[David Conwill]

Interesting, I wish the seller had provided more information on the item. Interestingly, I see that one is not stamped U.S. GOVERNMENT.

-Dave

 

[KittyT]

This lamp looks very similar to a modern caving lamp I have. I have no idea when battery powered lamps like this replaced traditional carbide mining lamps. My father has worked in the mining industry his whole life, though, and he is an avid collector of mining lamps, so if you like I can forward the picture along to get his take on this and maybe a date estimate.

Given the stamp on it, though, you're probably right that it's a fire lamp rather than a mining one, although the design is pretty much the same.

 

[David Conwill]

Kitty T, I would love to know anything he might know. Era alone would be great - this takes D cells, so for all I know it could be from the 1970s.

-Dave

 

[KittyT]

Kitty T, I would love to know anything he might know. Era alone would be great - this takes D cells, so for all I know it could be from the 1970s.

At the very least, I'm sure he can give you an approx date and some info about Justrite. Also, pretty much all of the modern lamps are made of plastic (although a fire lamp probably wouldn't be), so that could be another clue for dating this thing.

In any case, I sent him all the info and will let you know as soon as I hear anything. He's working in Mexico right now, though, so his Internet access tends to be sporadic.

 

[KittyT]

There's also an identical lamp listed on Ebay.fr right now.

 

[KittyT]

My dad's best guess is that Justrite started making battery powered lamps around 1970, but it could be earlier. He has a bunch of old Justrite catalogs he can look at, but it will have to wait until the next time he's back in the country. Sorry couldn't be of more help.

 

[rumblefish]

This is another old friend from the garage. My babysitter gave this to me when I was in first or second grade. She claimed it was a miner's headlamp, but it's stamped "WEST FIRE EQUIP CO" which leads me to believe otherwise. Oddly, it's also stamped "U.S. GOVERNMENT." War surplus perhaps?



-Dave

Dave,
My dad had one just like it. A lot of fishermen, night-surf fishermen particularly, bought these as a convenient source of hands free light.
I may have kept it for posterity, I'll look for it. The only difference I can see is the battery case on my dad's was the same color green as the metal on the lamp.

 

[KittyT]

Dave,
My dad had one just like it. A lot of fishermen, night-surf fishermen particularly, bought these as a convenient source of hands free light.
I may have kept it for posterity, I'll look for it. The only difference I can see is the battery case on my dad's was the same color green as the metal on the lamp.

Lamps like this are fantastic. I used to use mine a lot when going down to the basement when I knew I'd come up with my hands full, for looking under the hood of my car... fantastic thing to have for any time you need light AND both hands.

Oh yeah, I also used mine in caves. Like my dad, I prefer old-school carbide lanterns, but the heat from those disturbs the bats.

 

[David Conwill]

Thanks for the help, KittyT. I may have to load this puppy up and start using it. I can think of lots of ways this could be useful.

-Dave

 

[Mike K.]

I'll give you a definitive answer...

David - please let me be of assistance. What you have is indeed a firefighter's headlamp. But don't think of firefighter as in burning house, hoses, and spotted dogs - think Smokey Bear! I know from first-hand personal experience. This was a standard government issue headlamp used by wildland firefighters in the U. S. Forest Service, Park Service, etc. in the 1970s and 1980s, even until the mid-1990s. (I'm sure there's a good chance it also ended up in the mining industry.) See that imprinted label? Forester. Fire. There you have it! When I first became a wildland firefighter in the early 90s, this was the type of headlamp issued to me. You'd drop the cold battery pack down the back of your nomex protective shirt so the cord wouldn't tangle in anything while you fought fire. Fortunately, technology led first to the use of smaller AA battery packs, then helmet-only headlamps, LED lights, etc.

Here's a photo of a similar headlamp (but with helmet-mounted battery pack) in use. Hope this helps!!

 

[kpreed]

David - please let me be of assistance. What you have is indeed a firefighter's headlamp. But don't think of firefighter as in burning house, hoses, and spotted dogs - think Smokey Bear! I know from first-hand personal experience. This was a standard government issue headlamp used by wildland firefighters in the U. S. Forest Service, Park Service, etc. in the 1970s and 1980s, even until the mid-1990s. (I'm sure there's a good chance it also ended up in the mining industry.) See that imprinted label? Forester. Fire. There you have it! When I first became a wildland firefighter in the early 90s, this was the type of headlamp issued to me. You'd drop the cold battery pack down the back of your nomex protective shirt so the cord wouldn't tangle in anything while you fought fire. Fortunately, technology led first to the use of smaller AA battery packs, then helmet-only headlamps, LED lights, etc.

Here's a photo of a similar headlamp (but with helmet-mounted battery pack) in use. Hope this helps!!

I must agree totally.
I have one like that on my Wild-land Fire helmet, the real only part changed from then to now is the battery compartment is now plastic, but my department still has a few with metal battery holders.

 

[David Conwill]

David - please let me be of assistance. What you have is indeed a firefighter's headlamp. But don't think of firefighter as in burning house, hoses, and spotted dogs - think Smokey Bear! I know from first-hand personal experience. This was a standard government issue headlamp used by wildland firefighters in the U. S. Forest Service, Park Service, etc. in the 1970s and 1980s, even until the mid-1990s. (I'm sure there's a good chance it also ended up in the mining industry.) See that imprinted label? Forester. Fire. There you have it! When I first became a wildland firefighter in the early 90s, this was the type of headlamp issued to me. You'd drop the cold battery pack down the back of your nomex protective shirt so the cord wouldn't tangle in anything while you fought fire. Fortunately, technology led first to the use of smaller AA battery packs, then helmet-only headlamps, LED lights, etc.

Very cool, thanks Mike. Although I have one question - are you sure "Forrester" isn't the model name? It's spelled with two R's instead of just one.

Still a cool piece, with a rather heroic provenance. The fact that it's neither particularly old nor particularly rare is even better, as I can use it without feeling like I'm ruining something.

-Dave

 

[Mike K.]

I would say that is correct - Forrester is the model name, but a government issue firefighter lamp nonetheless.

 

[rumblefish]

Found it.

It's a Justrite.