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Centennial Light - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Centennial Light hanging in the Livermore, California Firehouse
The Centennial Light is the world's longest-lasting light bulb. It is at 4550 East Avenue, Livermore, California, and maintained by the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.[1] The fire department says that the bulb is at least 110 years old and has been turned off only a handful of times. Due to its longevity, the bulb has been noted by The Guinness Book of World Records,[2] Ripley's Believe It or Not!, and General Electric.[3] It is often cited as evidence for the existence of planned obsolescence in later-produced light bulbs.[4]
[edit] History
The Centennial Light is a four-watt,[5] hand-blown, carbon-filament, common light bulb manufactured in Shelby, Ohio, by the Shelby Electric Company[6] in the late 1890s; many just like it still exist and can be found functioning.[7] According to Zylpha Bernal Beck, the bulb was donated to the Fire Department by her father, Dennis Bernal in 1901.[6] Bernal owned the Livermore Power and Water Company and donated the bulb to the fire station when he sold the company. That story has been supported by firefighter volunteers of that era.[8]
Evidence suggests the bulb has hung in at least four locations. It was originally hung in 1901 in a hose cart house on L Street,[8] then moved to a garage in downtown Livermore used by the fire and police departments.[9] When the fire department consolidated, it was moved again to a newly constructed City Hall that housed the unified departments.
Its unusual longevity was first noticed in 1972 by reporter Mike Dunstan. After weeks of interviewing people who had lived in Livermore all their lives, he wrote "Light Bulb May Be World's Oldest", published in the Tri-Valley Herald. Dunstan contacted the Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and General Electric who all confirmed it as the longest-lasting bulb known in existence. The article came to the attention of Charles Kuralt of the CBS-TV program On the Road with Charles Kuralt.
In 1976, the fire department moved to Fire Station #6 with the bulb; the bulb's cord was severed for fear that unscrewing it could damage it. It was deprived of electricity for only 22 minutes during the transfer, which was made in a specially designed box and with full firetruck escort. An electrician was on hand to install the bulb into the new fire station's emergency generator. Ripley's Believe It Or Not stated that the short delay would not mar the bulb's continuous burning record. In 2001, the bulb's 100th birthday was celebrated with a community barbecue and live music.[6] As of 2009, the bulb has not been shut off for over 32 years; previously it had only been off for short periods, such as a week in 1937 for a renovation, short power outages (now solved by having it linked to the generator), etc.[6]
The bulb is cared for by the Centennial Light Bulb Committee, a partnership of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Livermore Heritage Guild, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, and Sandia National Laboratories. The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department plans to house and maintain the bulb for the rest of its life, regardless of length. When it does go out, they have no plans for it, although Ripley's Believe it or Not! has requested it for their museum.[6] The bulb's long life has been attributed to its low power, near continuous operation, and dedicated power supply.[10]
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FYI it says the light bulb runs on 4 watts. electricity properties are directly related. therefor a this bulb would be using .03 amps in a 120 volt socket. which is the same efficiency as the modern fluorescent bulbs that are sold today
The Centennial Light hanging in the Livermore, California Firehouse
The Centennial Light is the world's longest-lasting light bulb. It is at 4550 East Avenue, Livermore, California, and maintained by the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.[1] The fire department says that the bulb is at least 110 years old and has been turned off only a handful of times. Due to its longevity, the bulb has been noted by The Guinness Book of World Records,[2] Ripley's Believe It or Not!, and General Electric.[3] It is often cited as evidence for the existence of planned obsolescence in later-produced light bulbs.[4]
[edit] History
The Centennial Light is a four-watt,[5] hand-blown, carbon-filament, common light bulb manufactured in Shelby, Ohio, by the Shelby Electric Company[6] in the late 1890s; many just like it still exist and can be found functioning.[7] According to Zylpha Bernal Beck, the bulb was donated to the Fire Department by her father, Dennis Bernal in 1901.[6] Bernal owned the Livermore Power and Water Company and donated the bulb to the fire station when he sold the company. That story has been supported by firefighter volunteers of that era.[8]
Evidence suggests the bulb has hung in at least four locations. It was originally hung in 1901 in a hose cart house on L Street,[8] then moved to a garage in downtown Livermore used by the fire and police departments.[9] When the fire department consolidated, it was moved again to a newly constructed City Hall that housed the unified departments.
Its unusual longevity was first noticed in 1972 by reporter Mike Dunstan. After weeks of interviewing people who had lived in Livermore all their lives, he wrote "Light Bulb May Be World's Oldest", published in the Tri-Valley Herald. Dunstan contacted the Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and General Electric who all confirmed it as the longest-lasting bulb known in existence. The article came to the attention of Charles Kuralt of the CBS-TV program On the Road with Charles Kuralt.
In 1976, the fire department moved to Fire Station #6 with the bulb; the bulb's cord was severed for fear that unscrewing it could damage it. It was deprived of electricity for only 22 minutes during the transfer, which was made in a specially designed box and with full firetruck escort. An electrician was on hand to install the bulb into the new fire station's emergency generator. Ripley's Believe It Or Not stated that the short delay would not mar the bulb's continuous burning record. In 2001, the bulb's 100th birthday was celebrated with a community barbecue and live music.[6] As of 2009, the bulb has not been shut off for over 32 years; previously it had only been off for short periods, such as a week in 1937 for a renovation, short power outages (now solved by having it linked to the generator), etc.[6]
The bulb is cared for by the Centennial Light Bulb Committee, a partnership of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Livermore Heritage Guild, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, and Sandia National Laboratories. The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department plans to house and maintain the bulb for the rest of its life, regardless of length. When it does go out, they have no plans for it, although Ripley's Believe it or Not! has requested it for their museum.[6] The bulb's long life has been attributed to its low power, near continuous operation, and dedicated power supply.[10]
...
..--------------------------------------------------------------------
FYI it says the light bulb runs on 4 watts. electricity properties are directly related. therefor a this bulb would be using .03 amps in a 120 volt socket. which is the same efficiency as the modern fluorescent bulbs that are sold today
