Let It Shine
Vintage 3 In 1 Flashlights
I put together this Gallery to share the 3 in 1 flashlights, (all different in some way) along with some interesting information below with photos. If you thought only Franco, Yale and Bond had these. Think again. It's a long read, but, a lot of info and confusion to go with it.
NOTE - These are also called signal flashlights. The 1918 Franco, (seen below) is the only flashlight that has the 3 in 1 printed on the end cap. Winchester had an advertisment calling their's a signal light. I haven't any see ads for Yale, Bond and the others listed here. I think the 3 in 1 is a better known name for what we call them. So maybe they should be called - 3 in 1 signal flashlights.
This was another big find after the USALite, and before the Ray-O-Vac 3 in 1 flashlights, this time with the brand name of Blaco, which was made by Blake MFG. (this changes things) with the Blaco end cap with 4 buttons. The Blaco/Blake and the USALite look a like except the USALite has 3 buttons, and under the reflector where the bulbs go to make contact, is different from all the others including the USALite. (photo at the end)
The French Company bought Blake in 1929, so maybe USALite bought the rights from Blake before they sold out to the French, and came out with their own version in 1928, or did Blake make the flashlight for USALite? Either way, this changes things with Bond and USALite as first thought. I have some patent numbers at the end if you're interested with some more info. Another flashlight mystery.
Ideas On The 3 In 1 Flashlights
I sent some pics and talked with a 'Real Flashlight Expert'. These are just some of his ideas on the 3 in 1 flashlights. Steve Giterman, (contributor to the Flashlight Museum) who knows a lot more than I do. Read below.
These lights were made by Franco, Yale, Bond, USALite, and possibly Winchester (see below). They are all similar; all use 3 D cells, and have three bulbs, a clear one in the center, and a red and green bulb on each side of the reflector. When using the center bulb, the flashlight functioned as a regular 3 cell spotlight. But, they could also be used to signal a danger or stop signal by lighting the red bulb, or go or proceed by using the green bulb. Each bulb could also be flashed on and off by pressing the button over the top of the switch. You can see how these could be useful for traffic, emergency, or railroad use. They were marketed to police and fire departments, railroads and the Boy Scouts for signaling. A patent was filed by Edmund Barany on Dec. 21, 1921, and the patent was granted on March 13, 1923. The light continued to be produced through the early 1930's under different names.
Please Note: The Winchester model was in the 1938 Winchester catalog. If you take the 3 in 1 flashlight from the Franco years, this flashlight was sold for at least 18-19 years.
Each light used large bulbs that has a uncoiled wire filament in the shape of the letter S. (see photo below) The red and green bulbs were painted with a flat finish paint.
Originally, the lights had a single switch to control all three lights which did not prove to be practical, as the bulbs could not be independently lit with this arrangement (see photo #1/#2). Later, Franco changed the switch arrangement to three separate switches, each one controlling a different bulb.
Conrad Hubert began the American Electrical Novelty and Manufacturing Company (Eveready) in 1898. In 1919, he left the company and bought the Interstate Electric Novelty Company, who made Franco flashlights, including the 3 in 1. The company name was changed to Yale after Hubert's death, and in 1928, the name was changed to Bond. The light was produced essentially unchanged under all three names, four names including Winchester; only the end cap is different, and no name appears on the flashlight body or head.
 (#1) 1918 Franco 3 in 1 w/single switch to control all three lights. Straight switch, 3 buttons and has 3 in 1 printed on end cap, with Pat App For. Has the original S shaped filament bulbs made for this light in the red and green bulbs. |
 (#2) 1918-1919 Franco 3 in 1 single switch to control all three lights, with half moon switch. Has 4th button regular end cap. |
 (#3) 1919-1921 Franco w/three separate switches. |
 (#4) 1922-28 Yale w/three separate switches |
 (#5) 1929 Bond 3 in 1 w/three separate switches |
 (#6) 1927 Blaco 3 in 1 w/4th button Pat. Date January 4, 1927 Other Patents Pending printed on the neck. |
 (#7) 1928 USALite 3 in 1 w/3 buttons Pat. Date 3-8-28 printed on neck. Original bulbs with the S shaped filament. |
 (#8) 1930's Winchester signal 3 in 1 w/three switches line up W/4th button and hook end cap Original bulbs with the S shaped filament |
 This is the Blaco 3 in 1. If you have seen the others, you can see the difference. |
 USALite, Bond and Blake. See the difference in the heads? Bond is round. The metal piece is also smaller around the neck. The Winchester would look the same as Bond. |
 See the difference? We're looking at the size of the metal piece above the switch and below head, (the neck). Left to right - Bond - USALite - Blaco. The Franco, Yale, Bond and the Winchester will all look the same. |
 The Blake is on the left and the USALite is on the right. |
