DAYLO The invention of the flashlight By Steve Hathcock    Although the concept of the flashlight is fairly simple, its invention, which occurred near the end of the 19th century, depended upon the earlier invention of the electric battery and electric light. The first flashlight, (the British referred to it as a torch) consisted of a crude cardboard tube, light bulb, brass parabolic reflector and battery. Because batteries were weak and bulbs primitive, flashlights of the era produced only a brief flash of light-hence the name. A portable hand torch was not what Joshua L. Cowen had in mind when he designed a safety fuse to ignite photographic flash powder: The precursor to the modern flash bulb. The new “flash-light,” was a financial failure as an aid to photographers. It was too cumbersome to use. However, the U.S. Navy bought up the fuses to use with underwater explosives and Cowen was able to recoup his initial investment. Cowan's next invention, a decorative lighting fixture for potted plants consisting of a metal tube with a light bulb and a dry cell battery that could run the light bulb for 30 days was a flop too. In 1896, Cowan sold his company and patents to Conrad Hubert who early on become aware of the novelty item side of the electric industry and the tremendous profits to be gained. Hubert named his new company American Electrical Novelty & Manufacturing Company. In 1897, Hubert, seeing the potential of the flashlight, hired David Misell, an inventor who had patented a portable electric lamp in 1895 and an early bicycle head lamp in 1896. Misell and Hubert assembled a number of tubular flashlights and gave them to New York City policemen in different precincts. They began receiving favorable testimonials from the policemen. In 1906, National Carbon Company which supplied Hubert's company with materials for their “flash-lights,” bought a half interest in the company for $200,000. Hubert remained president but the name of the company was changed to "The American Ever Ready Company". Flashlight technology took a great leap forward around 1910, with the introduction of a nickel-plated tube or body and the invention of the tungsten filament bulb. Pocket sized tungsten flashlights and search lanterns quickly became household items. According to an Eveready brochure called "101 Uses for An Eveready," by 1916 the flashlight was an essential personal item-"the light that does not flicker in a draught, extinguish in the wind, and is controlled instantly by finger pressure. It's the light everyone needs." The military found a multitude of uses for the new invention including reading maps in darkness and signaling with Morse-Code. In search of a unique name for its flashlight, National Carbon Company held a contest in 1917. By contest's end, over 530,000 suggestions had been made. Four contestants received $3,000 each for their submissions of the acronym “DAYLO.” DAYLO couldn't be mispronounced, was easy to remember and suggested the use of flashlights; “day”, suggesting perfect light, and "lo" meaning "behold!" or "see." But the DAYLO name never caught on and was quietly discontinued after 1922. Today, flashlights have evolved into the emergency tool of choice carried by policemen, utility workers and campers alike. Conrad Hubert became a multi-millionaire while Joshua Lionel Cowen finally achieved the success he really wanted. He was the person who invented toy trains in 1900. Cowen started Lionel Model Trains.