Who invented the flashlight and why? > 자유게시판

Although a relatively simple device, the flashlight was not invented until the late 19th century, because it depended upon the earlier invention of the electric battery (1800) and incandescent light bulb (1879). On 10 January 1899, American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company obtained U.S. Patent No. 617,592 (filed 12 March 1898) from David Misell, an inventor. This "electric device" designed by Misell was powered by "D" batteries laid front to back in a paper tube with the light bulb and a rough brass reflector at the end. The New Yorker magazine reported in 1947 that Joshua Lionel Cowen, of Lionel toy-train fame, invented the flashlight. The magazine article says that it was a slender battery in a metal tube. On one end of the tube there was a light bulb and the other end had an on-off switch. He used these "flash lights" to illuminate potted flowers. Frustrated by unresolved mechanical problems in getting them to light properly, Cowen sold the invention to Hubert, who then distributed the electrified flowerpots as novelties through his store. The novelty company owned by Conrad Hubert donated some of the tubular models (Misell's patent) to the New York City police, who responded favorably to them. Hubet ultimately turned this into the Eveready flashlight, which built a $6,000,000 fortune. These early flashlights ran on zinc--carbon batteries, which were incapable of providing a steady source of electric current, and needed to be 'rested' periodically to continue functioning. Because these early flashlights also used energy-inefficient carbon-filament bulbs, this occurred at short intervals; consequently they could be used only in brief flashes, hence the popular name flashlight.

Misell's Patent 617,592

1899 Eveready flashlight

A high power torch