Trends for Dec. 16, 2002

Lisa Ferguson

Monday, Dec. 16, 2002 | 8:15 a.m.

Lighten up

December is chock-full of holidays. You already know about Hanukkah, Christmas and Kwanzaa. But are you aware that Saturday is National Flashlight Day? We thought not.

So you'll no longer be in the dark about this celebration, here's a brief history of the flashlight, courtesy of Energizer, the company famous for its tireless pink-bunny mascot and also the maker of Eveready flashlights:

The first Ever-Ready (as the company then spelled it) flashlight was produced in 1898. Its inventor, Conrad Hubert, was a Russian immigrant who acquired a patent for his "electric hand torch" that year.

The earliest specimens were made of paper and fiber tubes featuring a bulb and a brass reflector. But because batteries of the day were weak, and light bulbs left something to be desired in terms of wattage, the device could only produce a brief flash of light hence the name "flashlight."

Great strides have since been made in flashlight technology: In 1902 the first Ever-Ready trademark appeared on the end caps of the company's flashlights. Twenty-four years later, in 1926, the ring hanger became available on flashlights. The prefocused bulb debuted in 1937.

Jump ahead to 1966, when the first thermoplastic molded flashlight was born, followed in '67 by the first rechargeable flashlight. And 1970 was a banner year, with the introduction of the push-button flash-light switch and the "Skipper," the first waterproof flashlight. For more flashlight facts, visit energizer.com/learning/historyofflashlights.asp.

We're guessing it's no coincidence that Saturday is also something called Look at the Bright Side Day.

Force of habits

Shedding a little light on holiday gift-giving habits, meanwhile, is apparently this season's mission for the brainiacs at Taubman Centers Inc.

The shopping center-development company, in Bloomfield Hills, Mich., sponsored a telephone survey of more than 4,200 adults in an attempt to confirm and/or deny some holiday stereotypes. Among the findings:

A magic lamp?

Wonder if any of those big spenders will pick up the latest in Lava lamp technology.

In keeping with this week's "light"-hearted theme, we're turning the spotlight (dim though it may be) on the Wizard lamp. Same slow-motion oil, same nostalgic kitsch; new shape and floating stuff to watch.

The cone-shaped lamps available in red, purple, silver and blue are loaded with glitter that sparkles, while star-and-moon cutouts on the lamp's tip and base glow from within.

Chicago-based manufacturer Haggerty Enterprises is counting on fans of the "Harry Potter" and "Lord of the Rings" books and movies to make a hit of the Wizard lamps, which cost $49.99 at lavaworld.com.