Viewing light

The last coin show I attended had particularly bad lighting. Some sellers had little lights on their tables but moving them to control glare would ruin them for other customers so I decided to try to make something that might improve the situation before my next show in September. This shows my first effort. The base is heavy enough that it is stable even without a box of coins on it. I want something smaller and have found a smaller light but its rated life on a battery is not good. The one shown here came from Costco and uses three AAA batteries lighting six bright LED's. The flash used to make the photo overpowers the LED's but the image may give the idea. This works well on my desk but I'm working on an idea that will be better for shows. I generally go through a dozen boxes like the one shown or double wide ones so the design assumes sellers using that type box. Ideas???

 

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Great ingenuity, portable, cheap, and puts the lights right where you need them for you to continue your inspections.

 

I've had exactly the same issue at shows - in fact, I've come home with coins that had problems I wasn't aware of, simply because I couldn't see them at the time.

That is why I bought the super duper deluxe uber mother of all magnifiers with Hubble lens technology and 8, that's right 8! LED's. Order now and we'll throw in this FREE leather carrying case! (Batteries not included.) No more squinting through little loupes and burning your fingers trying to angle the light just right...

 

I tend to just use the flashlight app on my phone. It isn't the most ideal but it gets the job done in a pinch.

 

I have noticed shows are declining in lighting as well. The last few shows have been pretty horrid.

 

While it is more cumbersome than readymade light/magnifier combos, I like your idea better since you have more freedom of movement with the coin. Of course, the double glasses are an ever-so-stylish bonus

Related, I love this shot of you wearing 2 1/2 pairs of glasses. Such a piercing look on your face! Someone should make an animated gif of this with laser beams coming out from your eyes, and we can post it when someone says something deserving of "the look"

 

This was cheap! Takes 3 AAA batteries, it is almost indestructible and provides light and magnification.

 

I have one similar to that, plus another magnified light or two. I am not fond of the color of light in these devices. It makes the coins look odd.

 

TIF, I never use the clip on, flip downs any more. They just did not help with what I really needed which was fast perusal of the entire box. Having something hold the light frees both hands which is a bonus. I have a head mounted light but you can't look up and talk to people without shining it in their eyes.

 

Doug, Nice holder. You have the two qualities my Dad said make a good engineer:
Cheap
Lazy
I like your camera and light holders. I have bought a few trying to take better pictures or get a better look at coins and the store bought ones I bought are bad.

 

That is as nice a compliment as I have received in many years.

 

Got one of these at the Dollar Store. I use it for stamps.

In my experience, lighting is more important than magnification. One of my seminar instructors pointed this out like this: A 40X stereo scope is worthless in a dark room!

When the dealer has poor lights, I leave him something and go over to a table with good light. No dealer has ever said no to this request.

 

We are Numismatists. You will be Assimilated. Resistance is Futile

 

I bought an Eschenbach 1511 a few years ago and really love it, I just noted you can now get a portable base to attach to it, I'll have to order one of those.

 

Hey, wait a minute!! => I'm also an engineer, but I'm not cheap and lazy!! (ummm, well I'm not cheap anyway) ...

Oh, and I'm a pretty crappy engineer also ...

*whatev*

=> carry-on

 

That's OK, Steve, I'm not an engineer. I once wanted to be useful like Thomas the Tank Engine but that is altogether different.

 

Very similar to, and reminds me, that many years ago I made the observation (pardon me for paraphrasing Ben Franklin) that laziness is the mother of efficiency.

 

I've also been burnt by poor coin show lighting! I think an illuminated magnifier is a good idea, i'll probably spring for one of those before I go to another coin show. For Doug's hands free device, how about attaching it to something like this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tripod-Flex...37345dc&pid=100034&rk=5&rkt=8&sd=170856652539

 

@>Doug.
I do like your prototype, but this is what I use and it serves me well. It uses three 'AAA' batteries, and, alternatively, a USB cable. Because I have used the batteries that are in it before, I always take three 'new' ones with me, wherever I go. This can be bought for around $5.00 on ebay, at
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Flexible...869029?hash=item2ec7a361e5:g:hIwAAOxyFIFSAnVj

(Edit: Flexible, portable, hands-free, 3x magnification, and you can switch between 9x LEDs or 18x LEDs.)