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Pune Man's Unique Hobby: A Collection of 1200 Torches, Including 100-Year-Old Rarities!
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News18•30-09-2026, 20:52
Pune Man's Unique Hobby: A Collection of 1200 Torches, Including 100-Year-Old Rarities!
- •Mahesh Lonkar from Pune has amassed a unique collection of 1200 old, rare, and distinctive flashlights.
- •His collection includes pen, bottle, gold-plated, diary, medical kit, and TV torches, along with some over a hundred years old.
- •Lonkar's collection features an Ever-Ready company torch manufactured in 1905 and torches used by soldiers during WWI and WWII.
- •Some of these old torches operated without buttons, generating light through a connection made via the cap at the back.
- •Mahesh Lonkar's hobby was recognized by the central government's 'Har Ghar Museum' (Museum in Every Home) campaign.
Key Questions Answered
Mahesh Lonkar bought his very first torch at the age of ten. What started as a simple hobby of collecting modern torches eventually evolved into a passionate pursuit of old and rare vintage flashlights about seven years ago.
His collection features torches over a hundred years old, including a rare model manufactured by the Ever-Ready company in 1905. It also contains unique historical artifacts such as World War I and II era military torches equipped with colored filters.
Lonkar searched for rare items across old markets, online platforms, social media, and antique collector groups. Because certain torches were unavailable in India, he acquired them through international online auctions and from abroad.
