Posted on 09/24/2004 9:22:00 PM PDT by Nail
DALLAS, Texas (Reuters) -- They sure do not make things anymore like the Texas lightbulb that sold for a few cents and has burned for 96 straight years.
The North Fort Worth Historical Society will have a birthday party Tuesday for its famous household fixture -- a lightbulb that has burned continuously since September 21, 1908. The bulb was first illuminated when a stagehand at a local opera house flicked a switch and posted a sign that the light over a stage entrance was not be turned off.
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
No picture available on the light bulb above. This is the Livermore bulb, which is about as old.
(Wanted to post this in chat, but don't know how to).
Livermore is older than the Texas bulb by like 6 years.
Thankfully, that thing is nearly worthless or anything serious!
"They sure do not make things anymore like the Texas lightbulb that sold for a few cents and has burned for 96 straight years."
Manufacturers certainly might learn a few things from the past.
I have a General Electric upright freezer purchased in 1952. Still running strong. But not continuously. I confess. Every once in awhile I unplug the thing for an afternoon defrosting.
If you upgraded to a modern freezer you'd probably save enough money on electricity to pay for the new freezer in a year.
Would that savings include the cost of an extended maintenance agreements, assuming of course, the new freezer outlasts the warranty?
I think that's right. Livermore was 1901, while this bulb was 1908. Still, this bulb has been burning for (2004-1908)=96*365*24 hours=840,000 hours. The average life of an incandescent light bulb is what, 1000 - 2000 hours?
Get outta here ... really?!
The Livermore bulb is in a firehouse. But that can't be right, can it? Bush closed all our firehouses and opened then in Iraq. ;>)
Yup, and even the fancy schmancy ones are like 8000 hours. One thing about the Livermore bulb which might not apply to this one: Livermore is *FOUR* watts. (I think I heard this one was sixty, but I might be confused.)
I've no idea what you mean. I was just chatting about light bulbs.
But I like your home page, and I share your love for a good cigar.
George W. Bush will be reelected by a margin of at least ten per cent
I don't mind defrosting the thing every six months or so. The quiet humming is soothing and almost musical. I like owning something so well designed and so well put together it still does its intended job after almost fifty-two years.
I might even go out and give it a good clean-up polish tomorrow.
Whatever extra expense there might be, I think I'll pay it for awhile longer.
But percentage-wise, I am curious, how much did you save?
Yeah, i was just amazed ...!
Enjoying an Arturo Fuente Double Chateau right now (till Ms. B smells it!) ... ahhhh! ;)
Anybody remember the "Andy Griffith" episode with the old freezer? If not ... carry on! :)
Is the bulb on AC or DC current? AC will cause the filiment to eventually fail due to metal fatigue similar to turning a light on and off.
Thanks!
Some few years ago, in (I think it was) Builder's Square, I saw a display of those AC to DC adapters for light sockets. DC does extend the life of a bulb. However, the heavier the filament (and of course, depends what it's made of), the longer it lasts. Hence, I used to buy 130 volt, or oven / ceiling fan bulbs, despite the higher cost. Now I get those twisty fluorescents. :')
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