The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area The Electrical Bay Airguide Compass with battery operated light question?

Just picked up a vintage Airguide compass for my truck and I'm trying to get the light to work. The compass supposedly takes an AAA battery. The problem I'm having is that the AAA battery won't slide into the end cap. The original instructions call for a Burgess #7 or Eveready #912 battery. These batteries were zinc carbon type batteries. Is it possible that the Burgess #7 or Eveready #912 were a smaller diameter that the modern day AAA alkaline batteries? This compass also says it requires a 1.1V .22 Amp penlight bulb. The only replacement bulbs I can find are 2.33-2.5V penlight bulbs that require 1.5V batteries to operate. Anyone know where I might find the low voltage penlight bulbs? Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

old battery devices frequently were neglected for long periods, resulting in leaking dead batteries corroding the battery tray, yours may have a corrosion layer reducing size

"vintage" zinc carbon batteries were not a different size than modern AAA's and Eveready 912's are available

odd size bulbs also available

Bill

Bill,

Thank you for your help and the links concerning the 912 battery and the bulbs for my Airguide compass. A lot of useful information!!

Tim

A note of interest.
Old carbon zinc batteries were not magnetic.
Any new style has a magnetic case and can have a major effect on the accuracy of the compass.

Jim,

Thank you for the note of interest! Understood! I did find a 4 pack of CHEAP China made batteries at DG that did not have a steel case. Trimmed 1/32" of paper from the top of the battery as noted in the original instructions....and the light works perfectly! Now I just have to make the appropriate adjustment to the compass for accuracy.

Thanks again to you and Bill!!

Tim

Tim. I am new to Stovebolt and I have the EXACT same issue as you did. I have the same Airguide Compass and I need a battery that will fit in the tube. You said that you finally found some batteries from china (a 4 pack). I wanted to ask if you could send me a link to where I could find that same battery (compatible in size to the old Eveready #912 or Burgess #7). I would so appreciate it. I would have messaged you directly but I am new and Stovebolt would not allow me yet.

fixit1958 has not been here in two years, I doubt he will see this. Maybe someone else can help with this 7 year old thread.

Martin Thanks for the tip-off I sometimes get worked-up about outdated threads,guess there is no way to delete them ??

Why delete them? There's good information in a lot of them.

Exactly

But........ it’s “almost” always better to start your own thread instead of bringing up a London dead one.

Well, I'm certainly glad that y'all have seen my post out here stranded on a deserted island. I'd appreciate any insight to my battery need. I will keep looking on the internet but it sure would be nice to know exactly where and what to get. Have a nice day.