Vintage Darn-A-Lite Sewing Darning Torch

A vintage Darn-A-Lite in green and brown.

The handle is brown bakelite and would have held a battery. The cap is green semi-transparent urea-formaldehyde and holds a small bulb and reflector inside.

This unusual combination of a darning mushroom and torch was created for use in WW2 blackouts. The brown base holds a No 8 or 2R10 battery* and was turned on by twisting the lid tight, joining the contacts and producing a low light strong enough to darn by, or to guide a family to their bomb shelter.

A lovely piece of vintage kit, and in good condition for its age. There is some slight damage to the screw threads but the lid still fastens.

Length 11cm, diameter 7.5cm. Stamped 'R.E.D.' and 'Patent applied For' on the handle.

*note: No 8 batteries are now obsolete - they were often made using cardboard outers due to a scarcity of materials.