When was the first flashlight invented?
The first flashlight was invented in the 1890’s. Early in the flashlight’s history, it was used as a novelty, a small light that could be attached to a man’s tie or a woman’s barrette—but it was necessary to carry a large battery pack to power the light. As the flashlight developed, it became ideal for more conventional uses, and its size and shape evolved. Battery technology also improved—while battery power increased, battery size decreased, making the flashlight more portable and user-friendly.