I found a very old flashlight at the local antique store... which is what I went there looking for. It is a French Flasher, according to the tailcap. The tailcap has a pat. date of 1914, with older 19th century patent dates on the band around the switch. There is some corrosion on the switch, and the rolled fiberboard tube is weakened near the bulb end, but still intact. The bulb is intact and lights on its own, so functionally, I think switch contact corrosion is all that stops this from working. It runs on 3 cells.
By looking at flashlightmuseum's listings, the bulb and and tube look to be an EveReady Glove Catch #4 from 1903, but the tail cap looks to be from a French Flasher from French Battery and Carbon Co. circa 1914. So I suppose it is possible the tail cap was swapped some 50 or 60 years ago.. lol.
Any ideas on WHAT it is, and just as importantly, HOW MUCH is the value in this condition?
Patent Dates:
By looking at flashlightmuseum's listings, the bulb and and tube look to be an EveReady Glove Catch #4 from 1903, but the tail cap looks to be from a French Flasher from French Battery and Carbon Co. circa 1914. So I suppose it is possible the tail cap was swapped some 50 or 60 years ago.. lol.
Any ideas on WHAT it is, and just as importantly, HOW MUCH is the value in this condition?
Patent Dates:
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