Comments on: Lightbulb that's burned for 107 years http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html Brain candy for Happy Mutants Sun, 19 May 2013 11:08:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184578 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184578 $20(retail) for 2 1/2 years http://www.aerolights.com/longlasting.asp $20(retail) for 2 1/2 years
http://www.aerolights.com/longlasting.asp

]]> By: Antinous http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183812 Antinous Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183812 It's easy to see why the Shelby Electric Company went out of business. It’s easy to see why the Shelby Electric Company went out of business.

]]> By: Robotech_Master http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183814 Robotech_Master Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183814 And just think, when they outlaw incandescent bulbs in favor of fluorescents, it'll have to go. And just think, when they outlaw incandescent bulbs in favor of fluorescents, it’ll have to go.

]]> By: bwcbwc http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183816 bwcbwc Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183816 This story seems to crop up every year or two. Must be the anniversary date or something. http://www.firehouse.com/news/2001/6/11_bulb.html There's an 80 year bulb in Oklahoma, too. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2008/02/20/81-year-old_light_bulb_going_strong/8286/ Must be something about Firehouses. This story seems to crop up every year or two. Must be the anniversary date or something. http://www.firehouse.com/news/2001/6/11_bulb.html

There’s an 80 year bulb in Oklahoma, too. http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2008/02/20/81-year-old_light_bulb_going_strong/8286/

Must be something about Firehouses.

]]> By: Shane http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183822 Shane Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183822 Forgive me, but isn't it a fact that light bulbs can very easily be made to burn "eternally" (or is it urban myth that some of Edison's original bulbs still work?) but obviously, its in the interest of the manufacturers to have you need a new bulb every X months. I also remember, as a kid, someone selling "forever" bulbs door-to-door. I know, I know, easy enough to check via the googlemobile, but I'm feeling lazy. Forgive me, but isn’t it a fact that light bulbs can very easily be made to burn “eternally” (or is it urban myth that some of Edison’s original bulbs still work?) but obviously, its in the interest of the manufacturers to have you need a new bulb every X months.

I also remember, as a kid, someone selling “forever” bulbs door-to-door.

I know, I know, easy enough to check via the googlemobile, but I’m feeling lazy.

]]> By: Naikrovek http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184089 Naikrovek Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184089 a modern lightbulb, when fed 5W of power rather than 100, will last decades too. Probably centuries. Bulbs lit in such a manner typically aren't very useful, though. When that filament glows, it decays. When the temperature of the filament changes, it is weakened. Both effects can be minimized by giving it just enough juice to glow and turning it off as little as possible. You too can have a century old working light bulb, if you take care of it. a modern lightbulb, when fed 5W of power rather than 100, will last decades too. Probably centuries. Bulbs lit in such a manner typically aren’t very useful, though. When that filament glows, it decays. When the temperature of the filament changes, it is weakened. Both effects can be minimized by giving it just enough juice to glow and turning it off as little as possible.

You too can have a century old working light bulb, if you take care of it.

]]> By: Zaidan http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184345 Zaidan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184345 I found a link to the Shelby electric co museum and they claim to have at least one other bulb that has been burning for that long... http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohscogs/shelbymuseum/ShelbyMuseum3.html I found a link to the Shelby electric co museum and they claim to have at least one other bulb that has been burning for that long…

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohscogs/shelbymuseum/ShelbyMuseum3.html

]]> By: sebFlyte http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184092 sebFlyte Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184092 I'm glad that I wasn't the only one to think of Byron. I'm sure The Company is keeping a very close eye on it. I’m glad that I wasn’t the only one to think of Byron.

I’m sure The Company is keeping a very close eye on it.

]]> By: geneb5 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-185887 geneb5 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-185887 Pynchon's Byron the Bulb, nursing some 100-year-grudge, feverishly dreamed of organizing all the lightbulbs in the world to explode at once in a single blinding flash of light-bulb REVOLUTION! Pynchon’s Byron the Bulb, nursing some 100-year-grudge, feverishly dreamed of organizing all the lightbulbs in the world to explode at once in a single blinding flash of light-bulb REVOLUTION!

]]> By: robcat2075 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183841 robcat2075 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183841 A reporter checked "records" ... on a light bulb? Old timers had stories about ... a light bulb? Those two oddities make me doubtful. A reporter checked “records” … on a light bulb?

Old timers had stories about … a light bulb?

Those two oddities make me doubtful.

]]> By: Haroun http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183848 Haroun Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183848 When I was a kid my Dad took me & my brother to the Edison Tower in Edison NJ to look at the exhibits there & they supposedly had a light from Edison's time, possibly even made by Edison's lab. The explanation was that they kept it at very low voltage, just enough to glow, & it would last much longer that way. The records referred to could easily exist, as the time the fire house was wired & the light installed would be a big deal mentioned in the logs & in the newspapers. I like how they used it to find matches to light the kerosene lanterns. When I was a kid my Dad took me & my brother to the Edison Tower in Edison NJ to look at the exhibits there & they supposedly had a light from Edison’s time, possibly even made by Edison’s lab. The explanation was that they kept it at very low voltage, just enough to glow, & it would last much longer that way.
The records referred to could easily exist, as the time the fire house was wired & the light installed would be a big deal mentioned in the logs & in the newspapers.
I like how they used it to find matches to light the kerosene lanterns.

]]> By: Frank_in_Virginia http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184104 Frank_in_Virginia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184104 In a great stab at irony, he should be 'told' to change it out for a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb. After all they have a much longer lifespan. In a great stab at irony, he should be ‘told’ to change it out for a Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb. After all they have a much longer lifespan.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183849 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183849 #9 Alistair - Well if the reason this bulb burned so long is "It's simply a thick filament that is incandescent at a really low temperature". And they are no longer constructed this way, then I'll stick by my original statement that they sure don't make them like they used to. Thank you, drive through. #9 Alistair – Well if the reason this bulb burned so long is “It’s simply a thick filament that is incandescent at a really low temperature”. And they are no longer constructed this way, then I’ll stick by my original statement that they sure don’t make them like they used to.

Thank you, drive through.

]]> By: KurtMac http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183854 KurtMac Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183854 This was featured on a MythBusters episode: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=180639728096740394 Forward to the 6:15 mark to see when Kari, Grant and Tory take a field-trip to the Livermore Fire Station to see the bulb. The Myth they were trying to bust was whether or not you save any energy by turning off your lights rather than just leaving them on all the time. This was featured on a MythBusters episode: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=180639728096740394

Forward to the 6:15 mark to see when Kari, Grant and Tory take a field-trip to the Livermore Fire Station to see the bulb. The Myth they were trying to bust was whether or not you save any energy by turning off your lights rather than just leaving them on all the time.

]]> By: erx http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183858 erx Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183858 It's like #9 said, there's a tradeoff between filament temperature and bulb life. A filament is a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_body" rel="nofollow">black body</a>, meaning that it emits higher and higher energy photons as it gets hotter. Low temperature filaments emit most of their photons as invisible infrared, while higher temperature filaments emit more photons in the visible range. However, those bulbs don't last as long. Modern bulbs represent a tradeoff between efficiency and bulb life. So it's not really that big of an achievement to make a really inefficient bulb that lasts a really long time.<br /> Halogen bulbs are better because there's a temperature-dependent chemical reaction inside the bulb that redistributes the metal atoms to the thin parts of the filament, allowing the bulbs to burn at higher temperatures and thus higher efficiencies. However, they require a UV shield because they're hot enough to emit UV photons which are higher energy than visible ones. It’s like #9 said, there’s a tradeoff between filament temperature and bulb life. A filament is a black body, meaning that it emits higher and higher energy photons as it gets hotter. Low temperature filaments emit most of their photons as invisible infrared, while higher temperature filaments emit more photons in the visible range. However, those bulbs don’t last as long. Modern bulbs represent a tradeoff between efficiency and bulb life. So it’s not really that big of an achievement to make a really inefficient bulb that lasts a really long time.
Halogen bulbs are better because there’s a temperature-dependent chemical reaction inside the bulb that redistributes the metal atoms to the thin parts of the filament, allowing the bulbs to burn at higher temperatures and thus higher efficiencies. However, they require a UV shield because they’re hot enough to emit UV photons which are higher energy than visible ones.

]]> By: Frank_in_Virginia http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184644 Frank_in_Virginia Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184644 An observation. In Home Depot they sell "Longer Life Incandescent Bulbs" in 24 and 36 packs. Do they think we are going to live forever? An observation. In Home Depot they sell “Longer Life Incandescent Bulbs” in 24 and 36 packs. Do they think we are going to live forever?

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184651 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184651 I see the seed of a new religion here... I see the seed of a new religion here…

]]> By: Avram http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183908 Avram Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183908 I wonder how much it cost back in 1901. I imagine that, adjusted for inflation, it might well have cost more than a modern compact fluorescent. I wonder how much it cost back in 1901. I imagine that, adjusted for inflation, it might well have cost more than a modern compact fluorescent.

]]> By: FoetusNail http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183934 FoetusNail Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183934 I remember a similar looking bulb in my grandmother's carriage house/garage that had supposedly been burning for fifty years or so. I don't think there was a switch for the bulb because it was always on. A wire with a socket had been strung from the house to the garage uninterrupted. The house had a high step off into the driveway for getting in and out of carriages. This was in the sixties and that place was a kids dream, with a haunted rat cellar, hidden stairways, and a huge attic. Lots of dark wood and stone, very Addams Family. I remember a similar looking bulb in my grandmother’s carriage house/garage that had supposedly been burning for fifty years or so. I don’t think there was a switch for the bulb because it was always on. A wire with a socket had been strung from the house to the garage uninterrupted. The house had a high step off into the driveway for getting in and out of carriages. This was in the sixties and that place was a kids dream, with a haunted rat cellar, hidden stairways, and a huge attic. Lots of dark wood and stone, very Addams Family.

]]> By: oldmanfury http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183941 oldmanfury Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183941 As a former Livermoron who marveled at the bulb 30 years ago, I'm happy to see it's still burnin bright (or at least sort of dim). As a former Livermoron who marveled at the bulb 30 years ago, I’m happy to see it’s still burnin bright (or at least sort of dim).

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183945 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183945 I love the look of the bulb. You can get modern revival specimens if you wish, but of course they will not last as long....now why do I flash on Gyro Gearloose? I love the look of the bulb. You can get modern revival specimens if you wish, but of course they will not last as long….now why do I flash on Gyro Gearloose?

]]> By: C-DUB http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183975 C-DUB Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183975 I love my heart, but I love my Livermore! Another Livermoron who is glad the bulb still glows. It has a lovely steampunk look about it and I'm glad it's in my hometown! I love my heart, but I love my Livermore! Another Livermoron who is glad the bulb still glows. It has a lovely steampunk look about it and I’m glad it’s in my hometown!

]]> By: bjacques http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184244 bjacques Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184244 Well, ever since Phoebus started outsourcing, the new watchers just don't seem to, well, *care* about finding Byron. No professional pride. Blame it on globalization. Dang kids. What're you looking at? And get the hell off my lawn! Well, ever since Phoebus started outsourcing, the new watchers just don’t seem to, well, *care* about finding Byron. No professional pride. Blame it on globalization.

Dang kids. What’re you looking at? And get the hell off my lawn!

]]> By: anthropomorphictoast http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184501 anthropomorphictoast Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184501 Actually, considering that turning a bulb off and on a lot reduces the lifespan of a filliment, it would make sense that this thing has lasted so damn long. Of course, the whippersnapper new bulbs probably wouldn't last this long (LEDs excluded.) :P Actually, considering that turning a bulb off and on a lot reduces the lifespan of a filliment, it would make sense that this thing has lasted so damn long. Of course, the whippersnapper new bulbs probably wouldn’t last this long (LEDs excluded.) :P

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183994 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183994 #20 FoetusNail - I have similar memories of places like that. I grew up in the late 50s - early 60s and many of my friends, relatives, etc. had haunted cellars, hidden stairways, mysterious attics and even ever-glowing spooky light bulbs. I feel sorry for kids nowadays. #20 FoetusNail – I have similar memories of places like that. I grew up in the late 50s – early 60s and many of my friends, relatives, etc. had haunted cellars, hidden stairways, mysterious attics and even ever-glowing spooky light bulbs.

I feel sorry for kids nowadays.

]]> By: reviewstew http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183740 reviewstew Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183740 Reminds me of that great story about "Benny the Bulb" in the middle of Pynchon's _Gravity's Rainbow_. Reminds me of that great story about “Benny the Bulb” in the middle of Pynchon’s _Gravity’s Rainbow_.

]]> By: reviewstew http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183745 reviewstew Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183745 make that "Byron the Bulb," now that I check up on it... make that “Byron the Bulb,” now that I check up on it…

]]> By: Takuan http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-184517 Takuan Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-184517 apparently there's been a fair bit of LYING about LED long life. apparently there’s been a fair bit of LYING about LED long life.

]]> By: Jake0748 http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183767 Jake0748 Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183767 They sure don't make 'em like they used to. They sure don’t make ‘em like they used to.

]]> By: Jamie Sue http://boingboing.net/2008/05/09/lightbulb-thats-burn.html#comment-183775 Jamie Sue Wed, 30 Nov -0001 00:00:00 +0000 #comment-183775 A modern age eternal flame. A modern age eternal flame.

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