Laser Pointer Timeline

[Eidetic]

I'm putting together a history of lasers as a consumer product, but need some help with laser pointers. This work will probably be published so I'll be hitting the books for accuracy, but I thought this would be a good place to start. If anyone can answer the following questions, I'll have a clue as to where to focus my search.

1) When did you buy your first laser pointer?

2) What wavelength was it?

3) What was the company name that made it?

I'm most interested in diode and DPSS lasers as I have the he-ne chronology pretty much covered up to 1989, but don't neglect to mention them if you got into in that early.

Finally, I'm looking for any he-ne laser in a cylindrical head with an integrated power supply and a power cord coming out the back, if such a thing ever existed. No batteries, just a cylinder with a cord.

Thanks!

P.S. For a look at one of the prototypes of the very first commercial laser ever made (in 1961), take a look at the following post I made about it last night: http://laserpointerforums.com/f63/fantastic-buying-experience-laser_ben-52007.html

 

[StardustSprinkles]

First pointer was in 1999, it was a simple keychain red (650nm) that burnt out in a few days, all I know about it's mfg is it's "Made In China" sticker.

My first green was in 2008, paid 70$ for it at radioshack, it burnt out in a few months, so I went through the painful replacement procedure with radioshack (due to all the kids pot modding them and then trying to return them after they failed miserably), and I still have the replacement, works great. LOL.

 

[nikokapo]

1) When did you buy your first laser pointer?

Dec. 2007

2) What wavelength was it?

532nm

3) What was the company name that made it?

Newwish (DX)

 

[Grix]

Bought a 30 mw greenie from DX in early 2009.

 

[roddenberry]

My first laser was a used HeNe that I paid around $30/$40 (a Popular Electronics project) about 20 years ago...

My first "pointer" was one of those keychain 1mw gadget that I paid $2 about 10 years ago... with the little interchangeable windows projecting different patterns...

My first "real" pointer was a 532 nm newwish I paid $10 about 1.5 years ago. Still works like a charm and gives off a respectable 15 mW.

Now, I have several pointers of various colors, two HeNe's and two energetic labbies, that's about it! my current project is a future RGB/RGV laser (still gathering parts).

Robert

 

[styropyro]

1) First laser pointer?
Long time ago and don't remember, it was a cheap red.
1B-3) First good laser pointer?
I bought a Leadlight GLP-105 5mW green laser in 2005 for $50-$60 which was a steal at the time, I got it off eBay. I was 12 or 13 then, the magical pot-mod is what really sparked my interest in lasers. I eventually destroyed it so I bought another one and modded it, and it lived for years.

I didn't have the money to dump $400 on the 95mW Wicked Nexus (which I wanted so bad...lol) so I read up on DPSS lasers for hours and hours trying to figure a way to mod my Leadlight. Eventually I learned it was impossible, but I was hooked on lasers. 5 years later lasers are still my favorite hobby and now even my money maker. Now that I'm almost 18 I have to consider future jobs after college, and doing something with lasers would be awesome, but I'll probably end up doing something else.

The Leadlights were great lasers, they ran the diode and crystal set way under their ratings so you could actually safely pot-mod them and still have a long life. When my Leadlight broke it wasn't any part of the laser that gave out, it was this switch from so much use.

 

[rangedunits]

Mid january 2008, brought my CNI X-75 , still work great minus physical aspect.
Got a dilda a few months later i think.

 

[aryntha]

1) 1991
2) Coherent / Applied Laser Systems
3) 670nm

Mine got stolen, but someone else on this forum still has one (two of them actually). Wish I still had it. Ran on 'N' cell batteries.

 

[LazyBeam]

Probably around 1997/1998... I saved up for a pen-style laser pointer at staples or officemax.
I think it was somewhere around $100+? Red 635nm if memmory serves me correct.
I dropped it a year or so after getting it and it no longer made a "dot" so I took it apart.