History of Emergency Flashlights

The history of emergency flashlights dates back to the 1890s when the first ever dry cell battery was invented. Although other batteries were available before the dry cell battery was born, these were largely unsuitable for portable devices because they were easily breakable and did not offer any flexibility whatsoever regarding the orientation of the battery.

Figure 2 1: Dry Cell

David Misell is often considered to be the ‘Father of Emergency Flashlights’ and is credited with inventing the first ever emergency flashlight. Soon after he invented it, the American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company patented it (Patent Number 617,592 dated 12 March, 1898).

Misell used ‘D’ batteries and put them in a paper tube along with a light bulb and a rough brass reflector and the end of the tube. It was a remarkable invention for it’s time when no portable source of lighting was available.

Figure 2 2: David Misell Emergency Flashlight Patent

New York City police were amongst the early beneficiaries of the emergency flashlight technology and their encouraging was an ominous sign for the times to come.