Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Intercellar · 15th Jan 2024, 11:21 am

Hi ,

I'm hoping someone will be able to help me with a predicament.

I recently acquired an old chrome torch which I'd love to get working however I have no idea what size battery I should be looking for.

I'm guessing it's now obsolete but hoping I'm wrong.

The battery cartridge seems to be c23mm wide and c100mm in height.

I would appreciate any help

Many thanks

wave solder · 15th Jan 2024, 11:49 am

I once had a similar torch and it used a No. 8 / 2R10 battery.

G.Castle · 15th Jan 2024, 1:38 pm

Hard to source now I don't doubt, you may be able to convert it to one of the new rechargeable lithium cells, (the original would be 3V).

Nice looking thing.

Nickthedentist · 15th Jan 2024, 1:45 pm

Adaptors seem to be available: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273801272986

G6ONEDave · 15th Jan 2024, 3:33 pm

Don't have any to hand but would a couple of 'C' size cells fit?

Dave

Beardyman · 15th Jan 2024, 3:51 pm

Stumbled across this thread regarding a No 8 battery adaptor from one of our esteemed members:

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=51741

Hope that helps.

newlite4 · 15th Jan 2024, 5:57 pm

No 8 batteries are available from The Small Battery Company for 5.90 each (5.70/2). I bought some from there a few years ago for an Eumig transistor radio.
Neil

Brigham · 26th Jan 2024, 9:21 pm

I used to get them from Germany, branded Camelion.
May still be available.

broadgage · 6th Feb 2024, 12:06 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by G6ONEDave

Don't have any to hand but would a couple of 'C' size cells fit?

Dave

I doubt it, a pair of C cells are noticeably larger than a no.8 battery.

barrymagrec · 6th Feb 2024, 5:26 pm

How about a couple of AA cells spaced out with a rolled cardboard tube?

Alkaline AAs would last longer than the original Zinc Carbons.

TonyDuell · 6th Feb 2024, 6:37 pm

I seem to remember the cells in a No8 battery (were they sold as U8 many, many, years ago?) were shorter than an AA cell in length and between an AA and a C in diameter. You could probably make an adapter to fit a couple of N cells, but are they any easier to get?

Brigham · 7th Feb 2024, 10:17 am

Were they internationally known as 'B' cells?
They were available singly, and two could be used in a No.8 torch.

mark_in_manc · 7th Feb 2024, 7:52 pm

There's a 'sub-C' cell available - NiCd battery packs in drills used to be full of them, and I have an older battery drill - which fits the description in post 11. Might be worth looking at - I have bought them from ebay in the (not too distant) past.

15th Jan 2024, 11:21 am	#1
Intercellar Diode Join Date: Jan 2024 Location: Southampton, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 1	Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion Hi , I'm hoping someone will be able to help me with a predicament. I recently acquired an old chrome torch which I'd love to get working however I have no idea what size battery I should be looking for. I'm guessing it's now obsolete but hoping I'm wrong. The battery cartridge seems to be c23mm wide and c100mm in height. I would appreciate any help Many thanks Attached Thumbnails

15th Jan 2024, 11:49 am	#2
wave solder Hexode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Chesterfield, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 484	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion I once had a similar torch and it used a No. 8 / 2R10 battery.

15th Jan 2024, 1:38 pm	#3
G.Castle Heptode Join Date: Dec 2020 Location: Swaffham, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 587	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion Hard to source now I don't doubt, you may be able to convert it to one of the new rechargeable lithium cells, (the original would be 3V). Nice looking thing.

15th Jan 2024, 1:45 pm	#4
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,872	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion Adaptors seem to be available: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/273801272986

15th Jan 2024, 3:33 pm	#5
G6ONEDave Octode Join Date: Dec 2019 Location: Owston Ferry, North Lincolnshire, UK. Posts: 1,704	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion Don't have any to hand but would a couple of 'C' size cells fit? Dave __________________ Quote "All is hyperthetical, until it isn't!" (President Laura Roslin, Battlestar Galactica)

15th Jan 2024, 3:51 pm	#6
Beardyman Hexode Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Portsmouth, Hampshire, UK. Posts: 438	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion Stumbled across this thread regarding a No 8 battery adaptor from one of our esteemed members: https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/...ad.php?t=51741 Hope that helps. __________________ The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits. (Einstein)

15th Jan 2024, 5:57 pm	#7
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,807	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion No 8 batteries are available from The Small Battery Company for 5.90 each (5.70/2). I bought some from there a few years ago for an Eumig transistor radio. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

26th Jan 2024, 9:21 pm	#8
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,118	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion I used to get them from Germany, branded Camelion. May still be available.

6th Feb 2024, 5:26 pm	#10
barrymagrec Octode Join Date: Dec 2017 Location: Morden, Surrey, UK. Posts: 1,562	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion How about a couple of AA cells spaced out with a rolled cardboard tube? Alkaline AAs would last longer than the original Zinc Carbons.

6th Feb 2024, 6:37 pm	#11
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,228	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion I seem to remember the cells in a No8 battery (were they sold as U8 many, many, years ago?) were shorter than an AA cell in length and between an AA and a C in diameter. You could probably make an adapter to fit a couple of N cells, but are they any easier to get?

7th Feb 2024, 10:17 am	#12
Brigham Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Co. Durham, UK. Posts: 1,118	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion Were they internationally known as 'B' cells? They were available singly, and two could be used in a No.8 torch.

7th Feb 2024, 7:52 pm	#13
mark_in_manc Octode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manchester, UK. Posts: 1,875	Re: Old Tiger head torch Battery confusion There's a 'sub-C' cell available - NiCd battery packs in drills used to be full of them, and I have an older battery drill - which fits the description in post 11. Might be worth looking at - I have bought them from ebay in the (not too distant) past. __________________ "The best dBs, come in 3s" - Woody Brown