Everything has a beginning. Each story starts somewhere. The button is no different. So what was the first portable button?
First, it has to be electromechanical. When we think of buttons, we always think of pushing a switch that triggers an electrical connection that triggers an event. We don’t consider a gun trigger a button. Or piano keys, typewriter keys, etc. But a doorbell? That’s a button.
Check your pockets. You’re probably carrying around at least a dozen buttons every day. It’s part of our culture. So what was the first portable button?
I believe it was the flashlight.
Before we could carry around buttons to do things, we had to be able to carry around power. The battery. In 1896, the D cell battery was invented, the first small battery. Take two of those, but them in a tube, add a bulb, wire in an on/off switch, and you have a flashlight. This is what Conrad Hubert of the Ever Ready company did in 1898, creating the first portable flashlight.
The initial switches were simply metal flaps that you held down to make the electrical connection, but soon afterward, this became a button. You still had to hold down the button to make it light momentarily. Or, flash the light, hence the name. Flashlights evolved into pocket-sized designer versions, and the button craze was off and running.
So how many fires were prevented by not using candles or kerosene to look around at night?
Hmmm. Could it also be that the button in this case allowed for better spying and burglary opportunities?
So, a button HAS to be electro-mechanical? Ancient tombs had doors that would open by pushing a secret stone or something, right? Push the stone, triggers a weight that drops down to lift the door up. Is that not a button?
True, buttons are damn older than electricity. But I am focusing on electromechanical only, mostly because I’m limiting myself to the last century or so. This is when buttons entered popular culture and anybody had access to them. Portable, widespread, etc.
Gotta focus somehow.
“Ancient tombs had doors that would open by pushing a secret stone or something, right?”
Right, the buttons sometimes release centuries-old poison dart attacks! Or giant swinging rocks you have to dodge one by one! The worst is when those buttons release evil ancient spirits that do magic.
I’d have to suggest that spring loaded latches would pre-date torches again and still be mass accepted.
All manner of boxes / doors and other lockable items probably carried latched buttons from the mid 1700’s (or maybe before)
Any lock geeks out there?
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