“Boys ‘N Girls can send their own secret messages!”
Released by Hasbro in 1961, Navy Blinker Code Lites were a pair of battery-operated signaling lights that allowed children to communicate using Morse code. Inspired by the visual signaling methods employed by the U.S. Navy, the toy encouraged long-distance communication through flashes of light rather than spoken words.
Sold as a matched pair, each light operated on a single D-cell battery and featured a camera-style shutter controlled by a finger trigger. A quick press produced a dot (short signal), while holding the trigger created a dash (long signal), allowing users to spell messages in Morse code.
To assist with “ship-to-shore,” a.k.a house-to-house communication, Hasbro embossed the Morse code alphabet on the back of each light. A small compass built into the handle could also be used for wayfinding.
COLLECTOR CONSIDERATIONS
Navy Blinker Code Lite sets can be found on the secondary market in varying condition. Collectors should look for examples with both matching lights, the original illustrated cardboard insert, clean battery compartments, and functioning trigger mechanisms.
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