In Memoriam: Ralph Stephenson (1946 - 2020)
The Penlite by Concord of Cardiff c.1937
This is what AA batteries were invented for (properly speaking cells, because each one is a single cell of 1.5 voltage whereas a battery is a cluster of cells connected in series to give greater voltages or in paralell to give the same voltage but in stronger current) were invented for because they were known as Penlite Cells for around at least 20 years from either the mid to late 1930s until being designated AA size in the USA which soon became worldwide.
Ever Ready in the UK designated them by a number, which I can't remember, for some years with the AA desination taking over in the mid 1970s especially with the popularisation of alkaline versions by Mallory whose trademark Duracell eventually eclipsed the company name in the 1980s.
Penlite Cells were ordinary and not very leak proof but fairly cheap until the arrival of leak proof versions upped their performance by about a factor of three in the early 1960s.
Along with the companion AAA, C and D cell types these are probably the longest surviving, longest selling compact power sources ever when others have come and gone; memories of No8, Bell, No7, PP1 etc etc anyone?
The Penlite by Concord of Cardiff c.1937
This is what AA batteries were invented for (properly speaking cells, because each one is a single cell of 1.5 voltage whereas a battery is a cluster of cells connected in series to give greater voltages or in paralell to give the same voltage but in stronger current) were invented for because they were known as Penlite Cells for around at least 20 years from either the mid to late 1930s until being designated AA size in the USA which soon became worldwide.
Ever Ready in the UK designated them by a number, which I can't remember, for some years with the AA desination taking over in the mid 1970s especially with the popularisation of alkaline versions by Mallory whose trademark Duracell eventually eclipsed the company name in the 1980s.
Penlite Cells were ordinary and not very leak proof but fairly cheap until the arrival of leak proof versions upped their performance by about a factor of three in the early 1960s.
Along with the companion AAA, C and D cell types these are probably the longest surviving, longest selling compact power sources ever when others have come and gone; memories of No8, Bell, No7, PP1 etc etc anyone?