The history of Flashlight(Part II)

Last time we had a general view about how flashlight became a modern portable handheld lighting device from fire torch as mobile lighting tool and the emergence of torch. Here we'll continue to talk about the first flashlight in this world and 3 generations of flashlight.

2 First Flashlight
Vintage flashlight
Edison invented the light bulb and Faraday invented the battery, then came the flashlight embryo. The first mobile lighting flashlight in the world was invented by Conrad Hubert(1856-1928). The Blog "The birth of flashlight" has told a detailed story about how Conrad came up with the idea of making a flashlight torch. But it seemed at first the bulb’s lighting performance is very unstable, flickering. Thus it was named "Flashlight". Until in the late 1960s, with the emergence of alkaline batteries, the lighting function of flashlight were mature and completed.

3 The First generation of Flashlight
e.g. Tiger Flashlight
Features: incandescent light bulb + alkaline batteries, electroplated iron sheet as the surface of the flashlight. The first generation of flashlight, also commonly known as "old-fashioned flashlight", usually uses tungsten bulb incandescent bulbs, which is of low luminous efficiency, short life-span and easily burned. In regard of battery, old flashlight uses large alkaline battery, which is of large volume but low endurance. This kind of flashlight is lightweight and the fabrication process is not complicated.

4 The Second Generation of Flashlight
Features: light bulbs filled with protective gas + high performance batteries
The second generation flashlight achieved a new breakthrough, both in performance and appearance. A typical example of the second generation flashlight is the use of krypton light bulb and alkaline batteries. Thus the light bulb has longer battery life and better durability. The flashlight body is constructed from durable aluminum alloy material. The surface is processed with oxidation treatment and sophisticated technology so that the shape and appearance is superior in colors, quality and texture. Another typical representative is the use of xenon bulbs and lithium ion battery, with longer bulb life-span, greatly enhanced brightness and higher color temperature. Meanwhile is the concept "tactical flashlight" (click to learn more about tactical flashlight in wikipedia) put forward and open a brand new market for flashlight business.