"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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  • 48 Posted by zelox991 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 11:00PM EDT Report Abuse

    They had it on The Mythbusters. And that Asian guy said it was because the filmant is so thick.

  • 49 Posted by spdjnky_42 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:35PM EDT Report Abuse

    Stupid things like this are why the price of things are the way they are. Turn out the light and quit waisting electricity. TAX DOLLARS HARD AT WORK. Besides, if you dont break the light China cant sell you a new one.

  • 50 Posted by golro2002 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:11PM EDT Report Abuse

    i have better example .i know a candle which has been heating a public bath for centuries without any fuel

  • 52 Posted by bnsib26 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    "Today, things are designed to wear out so they'll have to be replaced. Planned obsolescence. Look it up in Wikipedia." Ah, yes, the oracle that is Wikipedia.

  • 54 Posted by koolpebble on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:53PM EDT Report Abuse

    I think it's possible for light bulb manufacturers to make bulbs that can light up for several years. However, imagine if everybody in the world had light bulbs that burned as long as the centennial bulb. Wouldn't the light bulb companies go out of business or see a steep decline in revenue years later? It seems like everything these days are made not to last that long. Now don't take me wrong, there are some companies out there (though few) that do pride on making long-lasting quality products, but you'd have to pay a premium price for them.

  • 55 Posted by slickr12345 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:27PM EDT Report Abuse

    -low-watt light bulb has been burning almost continuously since 1901. Take that, halogen!*** -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!*** What the ----- is all this contradiction yahoo? Can't you write one good article???

  • 56 Posted by myerxa2001 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:31PM EDT Report Abuse

    Check out the bulb in the Henry ford guest house on the Edison estate near Fort Myers it has never ben shut off since it was installed maybe a eighty years ago, Myerxa WI

  • 57 Posted by ed.carbery on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:51PM EDT Report Abuse

    Last year it was on 106 years, next year it will be on 108 years. Are you guys going to run the story every year?

  • 58 Posted by talaharriman on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:54PM EDT Report Abuse

    this is how any carbon filament lightbulb is. The light bulbs in Thomas Edisons house are the originals because the never burn out. Light Bulbs are created today so that the manufacturers will be able to make a profit by having consumers buy light bulbs ever so often.

  • 59 Posted by tracy280zx on Thu Sep 3, 2009 10:19PM EDT Report Abuse

    I would like to know how much money it has cost to run this bulb for all these years. I would assume not much, it would be fun to find out. they just don't make'em like they used to!

  • 60 Posted by bltreagan on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:09PM EDT Report Abuse

    I live in Livermore and the firehouse is on East avenue. The firefighters will have you stand under the bulb and the funny thing is standing directly below it, the filament curls into the letters "ON" They joke that the day the filament curls into the letters "OFF" is the day they will all be standing below it waiting for it to burn out.

  • 61 Posted by mat5471 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 7:10PM EDT Report Abuse

    And how has it been proven that it was on for all those years? Someone still alive that can vouch for it?

  • 62 Posted by scfp on Thu Sep 3, 2009 9:08PM EDT Report Abuse

    They took pride in the old days when they made something; with today's "planned obsolescence" philosophy in operating in full-force, it's not likely to see something like this again . . .

  • 63 Posted by gbleonard on Thu Sep 3, 2009 4:06PM EDT Report Abuse

    I had heard of a light bulb burning like this over in New York City somewhere in one of the fire department houses there. But, this is an incredible feat. Wonder if it is in the Guiness Book Of World Records? Amazing. I hope it burns for another 100+ years.

  • 64 Posted by fbi3255 on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:59PM EDT Report Abuse

    They wrote this much just to say that the light bulb has been burring for 107 years... in the end with no real contribution of answers from their own research.. pssh

  • 65 Posted by claytonmscott on Thu Sep 3, 2009 3:26PM EDT Report Abuse

    On the comment about "Planned obsolescence". Many people blame the companies that make the products as the cause that products don't last, but I have some sad news for you people. GE, like most any other company, will provide and sell you whatever level of product with whatever level of life that they can provide within the consumers willingness to buy said product at the price the product would cost to produce. That is to say. . . If you were willing to pay for it, they would be willing to make it. Consumers are the reason the Wal-Mart syndrome exists. You don't want to pay a fair price for a product so the company has to find a way to make it cheaper. What is a common way? To remove a part or perhaps use an inferior part in its place. Ever wonder why Bose can afford to make a better radio? Because people are willing to pay the price to get it.

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