Nano containers...purpose made or re-purposed?

[+Nubster]

Just curious...are these nano containers made specifically for geocaching or are they one of the many things that have been adapted to be used as a cache container but originally had a different use?

 

 

[+niraD]

The current ones that are sold as nano-size geocache containers are made specifically as geocaches.

The early ones were repurposed from blinking LED jewelry. The battery was removed, and a log scroll was placed in the battery compartment. The magnet that was used to attach the blinking LED jewelry to clothing was used to stick the container to a metal object. The LED itself was left as is, or painted over.

That's why this style of nano-size geocache is sometimes called a "blinker" or a "blinkie".

[+cerberus1]

Not sure what they were used for then, but a few woodworking catalogs sold them in brass for about twenty years now.

[+Nubster]

Never heard them called a blinker or blinkie but I'm not really around other cachers so I don't get to talk shop often. I'm a lone ranger in my area. That's a neat history lesson though. Thanks for filling me in!

 

[+Rainbow Spirit]

I've always liked to think that spies used them for exchanges of microfilms...

[+J Grouchy]

18 hours ago, niraD said:

The current ones that are sold as nano-size geocache containers are made specifically as geocaches.

The early ones were repurposed from blinking LED jewelry. The battery was removed, and a log scroll was placed in the battery compartment. The magnet that was used to attach the blinking LED jewelry to clothing was used to stick the container to a metal object. The LED itself was left as is, or painted over.

That's why this style of nano-size geocache is sometimes called a "blinker" or a "blinkie".

It's true...you really DO learn something new every day.  It's not always useful and not always interesting...

[+Gill & Tony]

10 hours ago, J Grouchy said:

It's true...you really DO learn something new every day.  It's not always useful and not always interesting...

My son refers to that as IBTUI - Interesting But Totally Useless Information - pronounced ib-tooey

[+Blue_Ranger]

So THAT'S what a blinkie is!  I've heard the term but had no idea what it meant!

[+jellis]

Yes niraD  and I know who was the first to create a cache from a blinkie.  She is from our area. Just look up this.

world famous joanie cache

[+noncentric]

And apparently, there was a thread about this same topic 7 years ago:  https://forums.geocaching.com/GC/index.php?/topic/242505-nanos-every-container-has-an-original-use/

 

[+hukilaulau]

I placed a couple of these blinkies 10 years ago. One in a park in Manhattan which was well received and another near where I live in Long island which only a few people found. After I archived those two I never had any interest in placing them again. I still find them pretty often. I won't go looking for them specifically but I'll find them if they're on my route.

[+WarNinjas]

On 7/26/2017 at 0:41 PM, niraD said:

The current ones that are sold as nano-size geocache containers are made specifically as geocaches.

The early ones were repurposed from blinking LED jewelry. The battery was removed, and a log scroll was placed in the battery compartment. The magnet that was used to attach the blinking LED jewelry to clothing was used to stick the container to a metal object. The LED itself was left as is, or painted over.

That's why this style of nano-size geocache is sometimes called a "blinker" or a "blinkie".

Very cool niraD!  I didn't realize that!  I kind of thought they were like a bison tube to hold pills.  I always wondered why someone would want something so small for one pill and the magnet.  That was really cool to hear!  Thanks