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1941 and '42 were the golden years for searchlights. Ten thousand were made, mostly ending up in Europe for WWII. One guess puts the surviving number at about 2500 worldwide. These behemouths were conceived to light up the sky, searching for hostile planes. A one hundred eighty pound, 60 inch highly polished mirror concentrates intense light from a 1 inch electrical arc, which is created from the mating dance of two inanimate carbon rods (hence, Carbon Arc). Supplying the electrical wherewithall to power this miniature sun is a Hercules flat six engine coupled to a DC generator. (Historical Tidbit)
Stalking the skeletal remains of the 5000+ pound homosearchlightis is not easy. Where would you look? Junkyards? Nah, crushed for scrap. Museums? I don't think they would take kindly to parting with their displays! Our intrepid leader has scoured the land east of the Mississippi to divine the answer. And what might that be, you ask? Barns and swamps, of course! You haven't lived 'til you've hoisted a searchlight out of the mud. After cleaning out guano, critters and bandaging some bruised knuckles, you face the perilous journey towing this hulk through America's heartland on 59 year old tires. Feast your eyes on the latest trophy from the darkest swamp in the Catskills! |
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SearchLight Intro
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