Torches

Developed in 1890s. Obviously after electric lights became practical, and batteries.

The Energizer/Eveready websites credit their invention to Conrad Hubert, a Russian immigrant who in 1898 found the American Electrical Novelty & Mfg Co to market " market battery powered novelties". He apparently filed two patents for an "electric hand torch" in 1899.

His 1903 patent (no. 737,107 issued August 26)

The company later changed its name to American Eveready, concentrating on selling torches & batteries. As they obviously still do.

There is a story: Hubert used originally came from the CEO of the company that he worked for (Joshua Lionel Cowen). Cowen came up with a decorative light fixture for flower pots, that used a light bulb and a dry cell battery that could power the bulb for 30 days. He gave the idea & the company to a sales rep (Hubert) and went off to do more interesting things, like developing battery powered model trains (Lionel trains).

Don't know how true that is. One site gives Cowen as the "original owner of the American Eveready Battery Company", whereas others, withh more details/references, have Hubert founding the company that became American Eveready (as above)

Flashlight Museum