#ITSELECTRIC Timeline

Jose Byrne, Ry Mohon, Sam Christensen, Manfred Hayes, Chris Lesueur, Jaden Herrera

1820- Michael Faraday discovers the concept of electromagnetic induction by wrapping two insulated coils of wire around an iron ring and applying an electric current to one of the coils.  He found a current passing through the second coil.  This is Faraday’s Law of Induction.

1832- Faraday builds the first electric dynamo.

1881- Expanding on Faraday’s invention, several scientists further the dynamo technology.  In 1881, the largest ever dynamo is created by Brush Electric Company.  It weighed 4,800 pounds and spun at 700 revolutions per minute.

1918- In World War I, a German soldier is captured, with a mechanical flashlight around his neck.  This one worked by pulling a chain, which then spun a gear and lit the bulb.  One tug of the chain produced light for five seconds.

1929- The U.S. army is considering discontinuing the use of batteries altogether, thanks to a new flashlight that runs by twisting the handle.  One winding produced light for a minute and a half.

1939- In the occupied Netherlands, Philips produces the first Dynamo torches.

2001- Dynamo torches hit the mainstream market.

2002- Shake flashlights, or “Faraday flashlights,” are introduced to the U.S. market.  The technology is based on Faraday’s Law of Induction.

A basic dynamo motor.

The first mechanical flashlight, found on a

German soldier in World War 1.

A modern Dyno torch.

2005- Innovations to the mainstream-consumer Dynamo torches are produced.  These gimmicky additions basically just combine other tools with the torches, including USB torches and torches with metal detectors.

2010- The earthquake in Haiti almost completely wipes out power throughout the entire country.  Aid organizations make wide use of mechanically-powered flashlights to provide people with light.

A Haitian boy with a mechanically powered flashlight in 2010