Lizfowler Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Hi, I am looking for a non flammable, preferably battery powered Medieval like Torch. So basically something that looks very much like a medieval flame torch but very low on the Health and Safety risks due to the fact they will be used in a school production! Could anyone direct me to a good props hire company or where I could buy some of these - if they exist! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiLL Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I imagine you're probably looking for a silk flame effect. Battery powered too I should expect, these are pretty rare, usually you would use a real flame torch which has a dead mans trigger sfaety mechanism meaning if the trigger is realeased then the flame is extinguished. However a quick trawl did turn up this:olympic silk flame torchOnly trouble is it says a battery will last about 30 mins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizfowler Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 Thanks WiLL But I should add "cheap"! We need quite a few! The school would not permit real flame - whether self extinguishable or not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ImagineerTom Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 You're not going to get "cheap" - a silk flame torch requires a decent fan, multiple light-sources, battery pack and housing - £50 for all that IS cheap. You're going to have to do some acting and pretending if you can't use real fire and don't have any budget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizfowler Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 Well actually, ImagineerTom I didn't specifically say I wanted a silk flame torch! I am sure they are very good for the money, but they are not what I required. WiLL was very nice to suggest these but they are too modern - and too expensive - for us. What I was hoping for was some constructive comments from people who may have been in my situation, or who know more about props, who could point me in the right direction. Perhaps I need to be more specific... Wood EffectHand HeldBattery PoweredMedieval Style TorchAny kind of flame (bar the real thing) It could even be hollow without a light, where I could stick a torch in it!If it is a giant ice cream cone that can be painted, fine!Cheap! Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 You could call Amazing Parties on 01444 240 165 who have battery pack medieval metal torches or possibly some other party suppliers. Probably best to create some of your own with hand torch innards and whatever the director seeks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
timsabre Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I once made an olympic torch using a cone made from stiff card, with an electric torch inside and a smaller cone of red and yellow tissue paper "flames" on the top.It had the desired effect but the "flames" were not at all realistic, also the light of the torch was only visible in near darkness despite being a fairly meaty torch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robin D Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 I doubt you are going to be able to buy something ready made although some of the theatrical hie places may already have solved it. Do they need to be lit or could carefully focussed lights that the 'flame' is lifted into do the job? That would make construction so much easier. I think I'd start by looking at some of the cheap lightsabers you can buy that come with LED's, take the sword bit off and replace with a gel cut out of a flame and try to focus the LED onto it. Mount the whole thing into a suitable cardboard tube such that you can still get to the switch, and glue a flared ring of card around near the top and wraps some bits around the bottom to form a handle. Then paint the whole thing (not the led or gel :huh: )in matt black and job done. Other than that, I think you are into having something built with LED's switches and batteries but it wouldn't take much to get back to the £50 mark and you will have to have someone with decent soldering skills and the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizfowler Posted November 10, 2011 Author Share Posted November 10, 2011 That's great Kerry, they have a wide selection on their website! And timsabre I know what you mean, if all else fails I think I will be making some. Luckily the only scene they are needed in is near pitch black anyway! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ramdram Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 You could make just the one...then alter the script so the other actors say something like, "Zounds, mine torch has just expired, prithee, my liege, (my lord, captain, wotever). Then the others chime in with, "God's blood! So hast mine own torch...", quickly echoed with the, "Drafts/draughts in thine castle are liken unto thy winter blasts..." and so on and so forth. Saves cash and forces the actors to act despite being in a near DBO...bound to work cos' the audience don't have a script to hand...and couldn't read it anyway in the light from yonder single flickering torch... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kerry davies Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Prithee sirrah, WTF you on about, Ram? Personally, I have a fetish for and am well-known for getting real candle-light into any and every piece of theatre I can. If 'twere me, I would look to using lanthorns and the like, claiming artistic symbolism were any varlet to inquisit me on anachronism. One of my finest moments was the procession of closely grouped nuns through a high Anglican church with nightlights on compacts (powder puffs) hidden in their praying hands. Illuminated their faces and built a pillar of light ascending to heaven while it freaked the audience into submission. Lots of "spectacles, testicles, wallet and watch" from the regular churchgoers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WiLL Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 maybe suggest using a fake candle in a lantern instead. You can make or buy the lanterns cheap enough, and led flicker candles you can buy for under a fiver each. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jivemaster Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 Historic lamps were plain flames or flames in cages, or flames in holders, they did not have beams like a modern torch. Start the project with a kitchen roll core and stuff some yellow paper in the top, then develop the idea! For nil money it simply isn't going to flutter like a real flame or give that much light or have all the nuances of colour that a flame really has. As ever it's another issue of Cheap, Good and Now -pick any two! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
themadhippy Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 of the bat idea ,some of these painted black,http://counselingtoys.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=34&products_id=284,wedge a small computer fan in there,couple off small torches gelled up,flame cut out and a few red and amber streamers,fan will run on a 9v battery,bet it wont cost more than a fiver if you shop around Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulears Posted November 10, 2011 Share Posted November 10, 2011 http://www.earsmedia.co.uk/flambeaux.jpgI know you weren't keen on real ones, but these were great and safe to use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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