Flashlight Kiev 30

Just picked up an interesting spy cam, anyone know anything about these? Any information would be appreciated. I think I've seen another one long time ago somewhere, but don't remember whether it's real spy cam or one of those Polish made fantasy cameras for collectors like the notebook and John Player Special cameras.


http://www.ussrphoto.com/UserContent/1592012_flashlight.jpg

Cheers,
Vlad

Very cute. That spare bulb is a nice touch:-)

Interesting disguise. You would think this outfit is for daylight shooting, and it is a flashlight. A spy with a flashlight at daytime would look weird:-)

But a nice job, with attention to details.

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Originally posted by fedka
A spy with a flashlight at daytime would look weird:-)

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HA! Nice observation! , have you ever seen anything like this before?

Vlad,
No, never seen this combo. But the flashlight - I remember this type, it was quite old fashioned even when I was a kid. I would think it goes back to maybe even wartime, or 1950's. This type you would wear on your belt.

Maybe you can post a larger picture of the open unit, like the one on lower right. I think I see how the release button works, and how you wind it, but what is that other sliding thing does? The one opposite the release button?

quote:

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Originally posted by fedka

But the flashlight - I remember this type, it was quite old fashioned even when I was a kid. I would think it goes back to maybe even wartime, or 1950's. This type you would wear on your belt.

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Also here in Finland, my granparents (born around 1900) used these still in the 1970ies.

Best regards,
Juhani

As I remember this is rail road flash light. As I remember levels on the front can put red and green filters on the front of the lamp. Such colored lights used to signal train conductor about conditions of the track.
Camera is added later, most likely in modern times effectively ruining collector value of the flash light.
Many collect railroad staff. They would be interesting in this flash light.
Originally this flashlight used 5 Volts square battery common in USSR.

Are you sure about 5 Volt? Here it was (and still is available) 4,5 volts which is equal to three cells.

Best regards,
Juhani

I stay corrected, 4.5 Volts battery was used in this flashlight.

I confirm: 4,5 volts. I had a light which looks like this one. If I can find it in my mess...

Jacques.

Hi Vlad,

I think you will find that the Signal Lamp 'Spy' Camera that I added to the Wiki Catolog about three years ago is of the same type. I have seen one in a Stasi museum in the former German Democratic Republic, but I am not convinced of their authenticity.

David.

Hi David, you're absolutely correct, I forgot this camera was already in the catalog!

http://www.ussrphoto.com/Wiki/default.asp?WikiCatID=46&ParentID=1&ContentID=1263&Item=Signal+Lamp+%27Spy%27+Camera

It is indeed the same exact camera! How interesting, seems they have made quite a few examples! I also have a suspicion that this is one of those Polish novelties just like John Player Special..

Cheers,
Vlad