By Milton Bertrand
A fellow Geazler
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| Centennial light picture taken by Milton Bertrand |
This is the centennial light. This is the world's longest lasting light bulb; It has been burning since 1901 to date for 116 years except for brief technical problems related to power supplies, power outage, and others. This light bulb was manufactured in Shelby, Ohio, by the Shelby Electric Company in the late 1890's with a hand-blown, carbon-filament.
I have been fascinated with this light bulb since I was a young boy. I am so privileged to see, and stand beneath it. That is an awesome feeling that words cannot describe. According to some firefighters that I had a chance to meet and talk to say that similar bulbs still exist and can be found functioning in places like Texas and Germany; However, this centennial light is the oldest.
According to Zylpha Bernal Beck, the bulb was donated to the Fire Department by her father, Dennis Bernal, in 1901[1] . Bernal owned the Livermore Power and Water Company and donated the bulb to the fire station when he sold the company. That story has been supported by firefighter volunteers of that era[1].
The picture does not do it any justice; it needs to be seen in person. It is just that cool. Looking it up at a certain angle as depicted in the photograph, the filament appears to say "On". Looking up at a different angle, it is "No" not shown here.
It is just that cool; all is possible with STEM.
Work cited:
Wikipedia
