There was a time when a flashlight was a luxury item to most people. Much like a scoop of ice cream or a ticket to a movie. But when the second war to end all wars was over things were very different in America. The hand held electric sunshine was suddenly more than a novelty for folks with loot. And much like today's lumen wars they had what I'll call "lipstick" wars. Who can make the prettiest, most fashionable looking flashlight. It carried over from the 1930's art deco period and combined with the 1950's machine era period.
Now on the tailstand note, go inside a room with no windows, turn off the lights and light a match. Hold it above your head. Note how well you can actually see by that match. Most of America was dark after 9pm until not that long ago. Many members here were probably alive back then. So yeah, setting a 2D flashlight on a table on it's tail was a thing for some. But the bullet shaped tail section was generally a fashion idea that began in the 1920's on 2C lights for "proper gentlemen and the ladies".
