Part 4/8:
For casual photographers eager to capture memories without the burden of professional equipment, the introduction of flashbulbs provided a viable alternative. Invented in the early 20th century, flashbulbs operated similarly to incandescent bulbs, with a unique twist. Instead of a typical filament, flashbulbs used small quantities of metal shavings such as zirconium within a pure oxygen environment. When an electric current ignited the metal, a bright flash would occur, illuminating the scene before the film.
The use of flashbulbs simplified the photographic process; they were more portable and removed the need for cumbersome flash units. Though they were single-use, flashbulbs became an essential tool for celebrating life events through photography at a relatively low cost.