flash question

I have always wondered how a built in flash on a camera can last for so long. Does anyone have any scienticic knowledge on how this is? How many flashes does a built in flash last?
I can remember as a kid back in the 70's when i used to play around with a polaroid instant camera and it had the cube flashes(anyone remember those?)
A cube flash was basically- you had to buy a pack of flash cubes seperate(disposable peripherals). You had to snap it on top of the camera. You only had 4 flashes per cube. As soon as you took a picture- the cube would flash and automatically turn 1 stop to an unused side and would be ready to flash when you needed it again. (I think they were sold in packages of 10 which would have only been good for a total of 40 flashes).
Hows that for ancient history.

Hey, I remember putting flash powder on a strip-like holder with a long handle and lighting it with a spark! Well, actually it was a demonstration at the Eastman House in Rochester.

I remember those but they were used on a Kodak 110 camera that my mom had. I used to play with the used up cubes. Now they're like antiques.

ps249 wrote in post #3926596
I have always wondered how a built in flash on a camera can last for so long. Does anyone have any scienticic knowledge on how this is? How many flashes does a built in flash last?

I think the fact that the bulb is only lit for about 1/1000th of a second at a time does much to extend its service life - aside from that, some non-impirical data I can share is the fact that my 177a Speedlite is still going strong, and it was purchased in the mid-70's

ps249 wrote in post #3926596
I can remember as a kid back in the 70's when i used to play around with a polaroid instant camera and it had the cube flashes(anyone remember those?)

Magicubes? Sure! Pretty primitive stuff.. but hey, anything that runs without batteries is still cool in my books!

ps249 wrote in post #3926596
I can remember as a kid back in the 70's when i used to play around with a polaroid instant camera and it had the cube flashes(anyone remember those?)

ps249,
Yea I remember those flash cubes, definitely don't miss them either.

Here is a link to help answer your question.
Flash Photography at Wikipedia