A Vintage UV Light from the 1940s // The Mineralight M12

This light is in surprisingly good condition being that it's from the 1940s, and it works rather well for what it is.
I do think it could use a new filter to really cut down on the light leak, and UV filters are not meant to last forever anyway.
UV Test Card - amzn.to/48gzfhC
Uranium And Fluorescent Minerals by H. C. Dake - amzn.to/4aEr8gv
Collecting Fluorescent Minerals by Stuart Schneider - amzn.to/3NFeHHh
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#CurrentlyRockhounding #Mineralight #UVrocks

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Did you enjoy this video and find it to be informative? You can help ensure that more videos just like this get made by supporting the project on Patreon. www.patreon.com/currentlyrockhounding

[@tott3457]

Without history of items we would not have today’s progress! Love learning about the history!!!🙏🏼

[@christiemcbaine2805]

Who cares if it isn’t practical?!? It’s a piece of history, super cool, and works! That’s loot! Even if you never use it, it would look amazing on a shelf. I could just see having friends over and someone says “what the heck is that?” and now you have this unique toy to show them. Suddenly everyone is outside at 11:26 pm with their glasses of wine, shining it at every stone they see, begging for their turn to use it… It’s AWESOME

[@775Rockhounding]

I’d rather watch a video with cool vintage equipment than the new stuff. Very cool light!

[@mikedodge3910]

I think it is really cool to collect vintage things. Being something associated with rocks and minerals makes it damn near a must have!

[@sandmaker]

I see now it's a uv light. What fun. A blast from the past.😊

[@micheleslaughter1324]

It's amazing to see the beginnings of portable UV lights. Super high tech for It's time. Not too shabby against modern lights. Thanks for the nostalgic dopamine boost😊

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

The technology behind UV lights has progressed so much since these were made, but they still have a place, at least on my shelf.

[@darrend4484]

Definitely a cool piece of mineralogical history. It'll fit well in the background as your collection grows.

[@BrienWood7.3]

I agree it is fun and really cool that something so old still holds up!

[@largent45]

That is totally cool! They just don't make them like that anymore! I seriously doubt that 80 years from now, your flashlights will still be working! It awesome that it still works! Sure it took a battery replacement, so would any light after 80 years! But then it still worked! And I can guarantee that maybe it had to be a big closer that the flashlights but it still worked! That is amazing! It always amazes me that things like this, were even made 80 years ago! They realized that these minerals needed a different spectrum of light to bring out their beauty! So they made one! Who knew? I'm impressed! Thanks Jared! ❤

[@Mrjoshuasjourneyzzz10420]

Thanks for enjoying!!!!!

[@spetkovsek57]

How many items manufactured in today's world will still work after 80 years? Not very many as we have evolved into a throw away society. The fact that it still works and the handle is still intact speaks a lot for the quality of workmanship. Yes, UV lights have significantly improved over time, but it is a unique piece of history. It's good of you to preserve it further. It will make a nice conversation piece.

[@aidankeller1717]

Not a lot of people work after 80 years lol.

[@stephendavis7057]

These need to be remade

[@RockandLap]

I’d buy it too at $40 + history it’s a must grab IMO. You revived it and set it up for another century… or future museum piece!

[@sevrynhowes6042]

Do you think people used this at home and saw their green glassware glowing? Uranium glass was super common, it was just sold as green glass (sometimes white or other colors) It's less radioactive than a banana but glows neon green under UV 💚

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

They could have.

[@kerickwalters2749]

Cool bumper music!!

[@markattardo]

Cool piece of history!👍👍

[@patriciamckean4186]

It's very neat. Who cares what others think, if you like it that's great. Not everyone likes the same things. That is what makes life interesting.

[@MidnightMinerals]

I have one of those!! Nice find!

[@maryweaver7087]

Sweet find! Love the history. Thank you.

[@Rocktwister]

Holy Smacks! Just the case sucked me in!! And it works!! And it is very usable!!! Love Love it! Dude! you got a great find there!

[@garnettoll9317]

That was cool!

[@DonariaRegia]

From my experience in vintage auto restoration that textured finish is referred to as "camera case". There is nothing better than the build quality and aesthetic of tools and equipment from bygone eras. Planned obsolescence wasn't the standard, it was more about pride in the product and the company.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I didn't know that's what this coating was called, but that does make sense.

[@mfbfreak]

Please make sure that any capacitors that are in there (i couldn't quite tell from the shot of the internals) aren't electrically or physically leaky. If they short out, they might take out the internal vibrator DC-AC convertor. Not too big of a deal, they're still available NOS, but none are made anymore. Contacts can be cleaned if you open up the can, but once open the inert gas filling will escape and you might need to clean them every year or so. In general if the capacitors are in a waxed paper tube, they're bad by default. Take it to your nearest ham radio operator or radio collector and they can swap it out in a couple of minutes. Parts cost is at best a dollar. An electrically leaky capacitor can dramatically reduce the output voltage of the high voltage power supply inside, and so reduce the UV output of the light. I absolutely love it and for 40 bucks i'd gladly buy one. Sadly shipping and VAT are prohibitive to buy one from USA vendors.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

That's good advice, but I'm not sure how to find someone like that.

[@cliffmiller1021]

UV for the win. Items like this are strictly for the historians of the field. Ya gotta have them to remind us how far we've come, I couldn't recommend it as a tool for todays use. A bit of pareidolia at 13:15. I think I see Jim Morrison. And that's why UV. Good times.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I agree, these are no match for the modern lights.

[@TheAngieStoned]

You're so charming, I love the fact that you'd buy a second one, absolute genius

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Thank you!

[@Tw0bItSmith]

I just got one of the mineralights on an auction site. Hope it works 😂

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

Good luck!

[@Tw0bItSmith]

@CurrentlyRockhounding looks like I'll be having to learn how this thing works. The tube light won't stay on and only flickers. The front light works fine though.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

@@Tw0bItSmith That's not ideal. It does have a large capacitor inside it. Be careful working on it.

[@TheRogueRockhound]

Historically, cool, but prolly wouldnt pick one up.

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I've used this light a fair amount now and while it's no match for the modern, LED shortwave flash lights those are in $80-$120 price range, so these used for $20-$40 isn't a bad option provided it's not rusted out.

[@TheRogueRockhound]

@@CurrentlyRockhounding Thats a good point

[@DonariaRegia]

Just the case alone is worth the price. I'd be tempted to retrofit it with modern internals.

[@mfbfreak]

@@DonariaRegiaThat would completely ruin the whole reason why it's so interesting - an early 'blacklight' lamp, with vibrator power inverter system running on a battery rather than mains. You could remove the real old paintings from museums and replace them with modern reproductions that have been digitally restored to hide the effects of aging on the canvas, but what good would that be?

[@DonariaRegia]

@@mfbfreak Instead of being restricted to home use, that case could house a substantial battery pack, charger, and White/UV LEDs. That would make an otherwise limited tool portable and useful in the field. A fair comparison could be digitally restoring an old photograph.

[@pedrodepacas-ic1cb]

Bro you got any idrialite?

[@CurrentlyRockhounding]

I do not have any of that.

[@pedrodepacas-ic1cb]

Check it out if you've got the time, it's fluorescence is quite beautiful.