"Centennial Bulb" still burning after 107 years

Wed May 14, 2008 10:44AM EDT

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Hanging about 18 feet high in the engine bay of a Livermore, California firehouse, a humble, low-watt light bulb has been burning almost continuously since 1901. Take that, halogen!

The Los Angeles Times (via Boing Boing) recently ran a story on the remarkably resilient Centennial Bulb—a four-watt, curlicue carbon-filament lightbulb that, give or take a few brief interludes, has been burning for 24 hours a day, seven days a week for more than a century.

The bulb has become something of a lucky charm for Livermore firefighters, who (according to the LA Times story) won't even dust off the bulb for fear of damaging it.

Indeed, when the department moved to a new fire station in 1976, firefighters decided to cut the power cord rather than unscrew the fragile bulb from its socket. A motorcade of fire trucks then accompanied the Centennial Bulb (which, according to Wikipedia, was only off for about 10 minutes during the short journey) to its new home, where it's been burning continuously ever since.

What's the secret to the Centennial Bulb's longevity? As the LA Times story notes, there are many theories. One former firefighter thinks it's because the bulb, made by the long-defunct Shelby Electric Co., shines in a cool-burning vacuum thanks to a perfect seal. Others chalk it up to the fact that the bulb has almost never been turned off.

In any case, the Centennial Bulb has been drawing curiosity-seekers and news stories (including, of course, this one) since 1972, and the bulb even has its own Web site—which, unfortunately, appears to be down for now (probably due to a burst of traffic).

Check out the LA Times Web site for the full story, including many more details on the bulb's storied history.

So, any theories on why the Centennial Bulb has been burning for so long? 

Related:
At 107, Livermore centennial lightbulb is still a real live wire [Los Angeles Times]

 

Comments on "Centennial Bulb" still burning after 107 years

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  • 26 Posted by oaklandsasquatch@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:43PM EDT Report Abuse

    I live less than 2 miles from bub. Earthquakes don't come into play here. This is solid ground. There is a nuclear research lab (LLNL) less than 1 mile from fire station with bulb. They don't build nuke labs on shaky ground. That is some thick fillament though ............

  • 27 Posted by haloo@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:15PM EDT Report Abuse

    If Companys wanted to they could make most products produced today last much long than they do. but they design them to only last a short time, so you must run out and buy another one. all they care about is their profit margin not the environment

  • 28 Posted by goatman069 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    I've heard about a company that made a bulb that lasted so long, it didn't need to be replaced and thus the company went out of business. (Limited marketing areas back then) Today, things are designed to wear out so they'll have to be replaced. Planned obsolescence. Look it up in Wikipedia. I imagine it was the Centennial Bulb company, sounds right.

  • 30 Posted by raybecca@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:30PM EDT Report Abuse

    Perhaps it is only a popular legend, but supposedly there is a bulb in the foyer at Menlo Park that has been going since Thomas Edison had it put there. Just as amazing is the simple fact that there has very little improvement since he patented the nickel-cadmium battery. When it says metal hydride or nickel metal hydride, designers have metals they can substitute for cadmium. One always wonders what might have happened if research had continued apace on these things. Sometimes just nobody is looking. Research must be taken out of the hands of business and promoted by the general public. The real solution to most problems is JUST MORE DEMOCRACY. Remember we have one political party that has popular and influential adherents that say that the United States is not a democracy. Pat Buchanan says that it should not be. My personal reaction is "Please, don't let the doorknob hit you on the way out."

  • 31 Posted by joma777@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:40PM EDT Report Abuse

    It has lasted all this time cause of the miserable low wattage ( 4 watts )

  • 32 Posted by rocktrousdale@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:47PM EDT Report Abuse

    The reason this lightbulb has lasted so long is because the filaments were made from Carbon Steel instead of Tungsten Steel of todays lightbulbs. Carbon Steel is harder than Tungsten Steel is & makes sence why the filament in this particular lightbulb combined w/low wattage or lower temperture for the Carbon Steel Filament has lasted all these years. Invention: electric light bulb in 1879 Definition: noun / electric light bulb / incandescent lamp Function: An electric lamp in which a filament is heated to incandescence by an electric current. Today's incandescent light bulbs use filaments made of tungsten rather than carbon of the 1880's. Patent: 223,898 (US) issued January 27, 1880 Inventor: Thomas Alva Edison Criteria: First practical. Modern prototype. Entrepreneur. Birth: February 11, 1847 in Milan, Ohio Death: October 18, 1931 in West Orange, New Jersey Nationality: American

  • 33 Posted by martygoodman@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    It's hardly a surprise to me to see the ignorant and insecure among those who read this blog respond to my efforts to share my understanding of this simple expression of basic properties of how incandescant lights work (which they, and the author of the original article, were ignorant of) with insult and infantile expressions. This is the way of individuals lacking in intelligence and character. For the rest of you, it has been my pleasure to share with you my understanding of what is going on here. A pity the author of the original article was unable to provide that basic information to his readers. I just sought to correct that... and express my dismay at the low level of scientific understanding in the original article. A parting suggestion to those who found my post objectionable: Look of the meaning of the word "ignorant". It's NOT an epithet of insult. It's a descriptive term meaning lacking in education and understanding with respect to a particular issue. A term I aptly used with respect to the author of the original article. If you don't know the facts, I suggest you not presume to write articles for the public about a given story or subject. There's no shame in not knowing such things... but there IS shame in not looking them up and learning them when you presume to write such an article.

  • 34 Posted by abcpc1@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 2:44PM EDT Report Abuse

    Ahem...'case ANYONE missed this...if this bulb has been burning since Wyatt Earp, burped....why have companies like GE been, pardon the pun, "Screwing" us out of buying SO many bulbs over the years, huh?!

  • 35 Posted by hankandlynn@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I find it hard to believe that so many people have wasted so much time in writing words of wit about this bulb. GREAT,

  • 36 Posted by hankandlynn@att.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:16PM EDT Report Abuse

    I find it hard to believe that so many people have wasted so much of their time writing so many words about this bulb. Alright, we have a bulb that has burned for the last 107 years. I think that is great. I think it was nice that they have shared this news with others like us. Now let it rest. Perhaps we will next hear about a radio that has worked for the past 100 years also. Or a TV that has lasted for the past 60 years and is still working. Boy, that would be great news. Now lets all give it a break and go to bed or find something else to talk about. Hank in OK

  • 38 Posted by b-b_christi@sbcglobal.net on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    Most carbon filament lamps were sought out and destroyed long ago to eliminate the RFI (radio frequency interferance)they produce. Another reason they vanished was that the early ones had platinum electrodes. Old barns and outbuildings were full of them long after the multiply spiralled tungsten filaments that eliminate RFI were marketed. The ARRL was still hunting carbon filaments when I was in high school. Until Sir Swan invented the method of making nitrocellulose fiber for use in making lamp filaments, shreds of bamboo fiber were used. I do not known what process was used for carborizing the filament. I do know that these filaments lasted a long time and the usual failure had mechaical cause, vibration or breakage.

  • 41 Posted by raziaar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm glad people mentioned the very thick filament. I'm disappointed the article didn't mention it as a possible reason.

  • 42 Posted by raziaar on Thu Sep 3, 2009 8:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I'm glad people mentioned the very thick filament. I'm disappointed the article didn't mention it as a possible reason.

  • 43 Posted by socaligirl_jen on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    I know that's awesome but Stop,Revolt. has a light bulb that's been running since 2009. How'd they do that?

  • 44 Posted by wuzzzer2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    A 4 watt bulb probably isn't going to generate as much heat as a higher watt bulb. I'm sure back then bulbs were made completely different than they are now with a much stronger filament and were designed to last much longer than today. The fact that it has been left on probably helps too. I've found on many occasions that light bulbs will easily burn out when they are first turned on.

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