This is the third generation of the Eveready Dolphin torch. It was designed by Paul Cockburn of Design Field, Sydney, in 1989 and made in Hong Kong for sale around the world.

In 1965 Eveready in the USA designed and manufactured the first Dolphin torch - a large torch for world sales. It did well, but in 1972 Eveready's Australian arm redesigned the torch for Australian conditions, using an Australian design company. The new torch had to be shock resistant and waterproof. The designer Paul Cockburn of Design Field in Sydney insisted that it should be fairly ugly because he believed that many people would see this as a sign of ruggedness and reliability. He also wanted the torch to be multi functional, so he gave it an angled head that threw light down onto the path ahead or up when placed on the ground, useful when you're changing tyres in the dark. From 1978 until 1989 Cockburn's Dolphin Mark II was the best selling torch in the world. Another redesign in 1989, again by Cockburn, created this even uglier, high-tech styled Dolphin Mark III.

The most recent versions of the torch (Mark 4 and 5) were created by Design Resource in Crows Nest for the US-based Energizer company. This torch, together with the other versions, illustrates the the transformation of a single product from one manufacturer over a period of 40 years.

This is the third generation of the Eveready Dolphin torch. It was designed by Paul Cockburn of Design Field, Sydney, in 1989 and made in Hong Kong for sale around the world.

Significant organisations :
Eveready Australia Pty Ltd : marketing
Design Field : design
Sonca Hong Kong : manufacture

Significant persons :
Paul Cockburn : designer
David Dalton : product manager / designer at Eveready

Australian Registered Design AU 106535 S
Application 198901664

Further Reading : 'Of consuming interest' Unnamed author Design World, no 19, 1990, pp 8-9.

This torch was used by the donor/designer to publicise his work and to record the design process and changes in appearance of the torch between 1965 and 1989.

In 1966 Eveready in the USA designed and manufactured the first Dolphin torch - a large torch for world sales. It did well, but in 1973 Eveready's Australian arm redesigned the torch for Australian conditions, using an Australian design company. The new torch had to be shock resistant and waterproof. Paul Cockburn of Design Field in Sydney insisted that it should be fairly ugly because he believed that many people would see this as a sign of ruggedness and reliability. He also wanted the torch to be multi functional, so he gave it an angled head that threw light down onto the path ahead or up when placed on the ground, useful when you're changing tyres in the dark. From 1978 until 1989 Cockburn's Dolphin Mark II was the best selling torch in the world. Another redesign in 1989, again by Cockburn, created the even uglier, high-tech styled Dolphin Mark III.

The most recent versions of the torch (Mark 4 and 5) were created by Design Resource in Crows Nest for the US-based Energizer company.

Torch, Eveready 'Dolphin Mk3 - Marine', made by Eveready Australia Pty Ltd, Hong Kong, 1990

Yellow moulded plastic with blue trim and blue rubber seal; rectangular body, with handle running along top; marked "EVEREADY MARINE." Instruction at bottom for operating as spotlight or SOS signal.

Made: 1990

91/1318

1990

130 mm

120 mm

200 mm