The Oldest Diode Laser Pointer

[Eidetic]

Just added laser #96 to my collection, the oldest laser pointer made with a diode laser. The Holo-Spectra model HSD-1 "Spot" featured a Toshiba 670nm diode laser with an output power of about a milliWatt. It's 8.5" long, 1" diameter, weighs 7oz, has a rechargeable Ni-Cd battery, includes a battery charger, and originally cost $495.

Holo-Spectra is well known to all old time laser and holography professionals and amateurs. I bought my first spatial filter and other holography equipment from the Arkin brothers in '81. They began production of "Spot" in 1989, and followed it over the next couple years with three more models based on larger Toshiba 670nm diodes (up to 3mW).

This particular unit includes the original handwritten receipt and instructions in the original box. It was bought in March 1990 by Jerry Fox of White Light Works, a well known distributer of holograms and hologram related products throughout the '80s and into the '90s. I knew Jerry well back then, did work for him and miss him since he passed away way too early in the mid-'90s. What a great surprise it was to see his company's name on this receipt! I'm really, really happy to have this laser pointer in my collection.

[ArcDevilz]

Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooos ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss ssssssssshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.

[Jem]

Nice one Bob.

I have a HeNe laser pointer here that works off rechargeable batteries, send me a PM If you're interested

Cheers

Jem

[Eidetic]

So while playing with my new old laser, I decided to pull out all the "official" pointers I have for a "get it out of my system" group shot. I hope those initially offended by the product category can appreciate the vintage style and historical intent. They are, from left to right:
a) 1978 Bergen LP-6 He-Ne missing power supply,
b) c1985 Unknown He-Ne with two 9v batteries in a holder that slides out the rear,
c) 1989 Draper Blinds LLP He-Ne with low voltage connector on the rear (don't know if it has a rechargeable battery inside),
d) 1989 Laser Photonics "The Point" He-Ne with 12v transformer,
e) 1990 Holo-Spectra HSD-1 "Spot" diode at 670nm with Ni-Cd battery and charger,
f) c1996 Apollo? "Bullet"? diode at 670nm? (typical cheapo pointer of the time),
g) 1999 Ednalite "Laser Pointer" diode at 650nm with attached power supply, and
h) 2010 Wicked Lasers Arctic diode at 445nm with a rechargeable Lithium Ion battery.

I'd like to add all the DPSS laser pointers to my collection, and am looking for the earliest examples I can find at 532nm, yellow, orange, 473nm, and 405nm. Again, sorry for pointer overload but it's now out of my system and we can now return to lasers, all kinds that make patterns.

[Jem]

Hi Bob

The third from the left, the Draper one looks just like the rechargeable one I have here. Same power on button as well

I don't think anyone here should feel offended by this post, this is history at its best.

[dream beamz]

Cool stuff, I remember being a kid and mowing lots of lawns to buy a RadioShack red pointer for like $140