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#151651 06/08/01 11:26 PM
Joined: Nov 2000
Posts: 2,236
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Go to This Page about a 100 year old bulb that has burned more or less continuously since 1901...

How is this possible?

[This message has been edited by sparky66wv (edited 06-08-2001).]


-Virgil
Residential/Commercial Inspector
5 Star Inspections
Member IAEI
#151652 06/08/01 11:47 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 4,116
Likes: 4
Member
'66,

Interesting!
I came across this Antique Bulb Collectors' site awhile back but haven't had the chance to delve into it yet. Maybe you'll find an answer in there somewhere.
http://www.bulbcollector.com/

Bill


Bill
#151653 06/09/01 08:44 AM
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,056
R
Member
There is a dining room chandelier in Thomas Edisons home in which all of the bulbs have been burning 10 hrs. a day since around 1920. Evidently the technology exists for much longer life bulbs, but that is not good for the sales dept..

#151654 06/09/01 12:21 PM
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 507
G
Member


How is this possible?


Conjecture here.....
Heavy lamp filaments with good support.
Low operating temperatures.
Low power....(says 4w, right?)

Probably doesn't produce the nice white light that we expect from a lamp.

GJ

#151655 06/09/01 04:15 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 1
Broom Pusher and
Member
I had heard the News on Friday Afternoon mentioning this - At a Fire Station, there is this 4 watt Incandescent Lamp which has been active 24/7 for 100 years. Only heard the story in passing [as in I was passing by the TV set while the story was "briefed" - the little bite of stories right before the commercial breaks - kind of the "Bumper Stories"???].

My thought was the lamp is like a 230 volt lamp, running at 120 VAC, which would make it's life expectancy virtually infinite - until being knocked by the passing Fire Fighter and such!

Like GJ said, it wouldn't produce the brilliant white light that is familiar to an Incandescent lamp, but instead would produce a really deep orange light output. In all fairness, this is considered light output, so the lamp has a valid claim - 100 years of life.

Scott SET


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
#151656 06/09/01 07:09 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 5,392
S
Member
This bulb violates the planned obsolesence incoropated by every supplier on the planet who , given it's address ,would most likely have a hand in a 'drive-by-shorting'

[Linked Image]

#151657 06/09/01 08:03 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
Good humor there, but Livermore, CA is a low-crime area with a median income of >$75,000 yr. There aren't drive by shootings there.

#151658 06/09/01 10:05 PM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 127
G
Member
I read an article about this bulb in a motorcycle magazine in 1972 or 3. The article was about the ride there. It did give some history of the bulb and if I remember correctly said the voltage was reduced to about half when the owners realized it was the Oldest Living Light Bulb. I believe that the Oldest Living Light Bulb was the title of the article.
Isn't manufacturing a bulb to a higher voltage rating than labelled used for what is called Long Life lamps?

#151659 06/09/01 11:17 PM
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 2,723
Likes: 1
Broom Pusher and
Member
Mr. Powell,

Yes, that's the typical method I have seen with the long life type A Incandescent lamps - rating of 130 VAC stamped right on top.

Even had a Telemarketer make a very bold statement that they are rated for 130 VAC operation, and due to this the lamp will have an orange color to it. This person actually was truthful about some areas of the pitch!!

This certain one got my attention, instead of the normal ones where I just hang up, because the opening pitch was long life "Bulbs".
Even though I never planned to make a purchase [sure got that salesperson pissed at me when I dropped that bombshell!!], the thought of pushing long life Incandescent lamps caught my attention - so I acted like I was "Baited" - went as far as acting like I had no idea about Electrical tech or terminologies [until the end].

So it turned out they were going to try and sell me 130 watt A17 60 watt lamps for around $5.00 each +S&H - which is more than I would pay at the home centers [around $3.50 each, no S&H but fuel to drive there - might work out the same in the long run].

Kind of threw the person for a loop when I blerted that out, after their 5+ minute speech about how cool these lamps are and that they do everything - including the laundry [joke], but the worst was when I said no thank you! some quick swear words were heard before the line dropped!!

So much for that story!! [Linked Image]

Now I have seen heavy duty "A" type Incandescent lamps, which are used for Locomotives, and they are really built for the abuse! Supports for the fillament on at least 4, maybe 5 places, plus very thick filaments. Voltage was as I remember 75 VAC, and I think the nominal Aux. lighting voltage is like 63 VAC - I'll have to check.
The inert gas might have been Krypton, or just clean Argon - not sure on this.

Those lamps were the only long life and heavy duty ones I have ever really seen!!

Anyone else have a similar story???

Scott SET

P.S. - Steve: Love the term "Drive-By Shorting"!!! LMAO-ROTF-LOL!!!


Scott " 35 " Thompson
Just Say NO To Green Eggs And Ham!
#151660 06/10/01 07:54 AM
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 4,294
Member
For use in exit fixtures, we regularly replace the 15T6 incandescent lamps with lamps rated at 145 volts (and explain to the customer that for the price of 1 service call they could buy an LED exit fixture, and be done with it)

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