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Наталя ХандусенкоHot News
11 February 2025, 17:32
2025-02-11
In an American town, there is a light bulb that has been burning 24/7 for over 100 years. It is a local legend, whose anniversaries are celebrated by all the townspeople. What is the secret of its longevity?
In 1901, the Livermore Fire Department in the United States was given a light bulb that has been working 24/7 ever since. An advertisement from the manufacturer, Shelby Electric Company, in the late 1890s called it “the finest light bulb on Earth.” Now, after more than 100 years of use, that claim is entirely true.
In 1901, the Livermore Fire Department in the United States was given a light bulb that has been working 24/7 ever since. An advertisement from the manufacturer, Shelby Electric Company, in the late 1890s called it “the finest light bulb on Earth.” Now, after more than 100 years of use, that claim is entirely true.
This little light bulb was created at the turn of the century, almost 20 years after Thomas Edison patented the platinum filament incandescent lamp in 1879.
The design of the donated light bulb was invented by French scientist Adolphe Chaillet. Originally a 60-watt bulb with a hand-blown carbon filament, it now emits a 4-watt light, similar to that of a nightlight, but has been burning for over a century.
The light bulb was given to the fire department by Dennis Bernal when he was selling his company in the city. Researchers found a 1912 catalog from the manufacturer, which listed the bulb at 40 cents, which would be about $13 today.
Before journalists realized the age and significance of the light bulb in the 1970s, firefighters at the station treated it as an ordinary object—even tapping it for good luck or using it as a target for Nerf balls. But once its significance became known, the city began to protect its little light.
The bulb's longevity can be attributed to the fact that it was rarely turned off, which puts stress on the bulb as the temperature inside it rises and falls. It was also handcrafted from stronger materials than modern bulbs, and its low wattage maintained a steady light.
It has only experienced a few brief outages since the 20th century — such as when it was being moved between fire stations in 1976. The light bulb was accompanied by a fire engine and installed by an electrician upon arrival. It is now connected to an uninterruptible power supply on an emergency generator, and the fire department plans to keep and maintain the light bulb for the rest of its life, whatever that may be.
The community really cares about this little piece of history. In 2001, they honored the light bulb with a centennial celebration, featuring a community barbecue and live music. In 2011, the city celebrated the light bulb's millionth hour of burning with a fun "Bulbcam" page.
On May 20, 2013, the light bulb went out. It was noticed by her fans who were watching her via webcam. They quickly alerted the community, who called an electrician. It turned out that an extension cord had redirected the electricity and turned off the light bulb. Fortunately, the light bulb did not burn out, and it was turned back on about 10 hours later.
Today, the bulb provides dim lighting for fire engines and is a source of comfort for the station's firefighters, who have seen it as a sign of good luck and stability for generations.
Of course, this light bulb is registered as the oldest in the Guinness Book of Records.
