"Let There Be Light." Borrowing from the bible, the Eveready Co. used this phrase on the cover of its 1899 catalog, along with a hand from the heavens pointing a flashlight at the earth. Those were the beginning years of the flashlight, originally promoted to help sell batteries and growing to become an essential safety product in every American household and automobile. Never before has there been an extensive treatment of the flashlight from an historical and collectible point of view. In this beautifully illustrated full color volume, Stuart Schneider brings a fascinating world to "light." With flashlights ranging from the purely practical to the elegantly stylish, to the playthings of children, the reader will begin to appreciate the beauty of their design and their inventiveness. 458 color photographs illustrate the book, each accompanied by an informative caption and the value of the model in today's market. Histories of many companies and important information for collectors is also included.