Centennial Light

File:Centennial-Light-Bulb-pendant-light-in-Livermore-CA-2016.jpgThe Centennial Light was originally a 60-watt bulb, but has since dimmed significantly and is now as bright as a 4-watt bulb.{{citation | url = http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_17287091 | title = Tests shine light on the secret of the Livermore light bulb|newspaper=Contra Costa Times|last=Benca|first=Jeanine|date=February 6, 2011}}{{citation |date = 2003-04-02 | url = https://www.usatoday.com/tech/webguide/hotsites/2003/2003-04-02-hotsites.htm | title = Centennial bulb | newspaper = USA Today | access-date = January 27, 2007}} The hand-blown, carbon-filament common light bulb was invented by Adolphe Chaillet, a French engineer who filed a patent for this socket technology.{{citation|last1=Chaillet |first1=Adolphe Alexandre |title=Patent US625321A.A. CHAILLET. Socket for incandescent lamps |url=https://patents.google.com/patent/US625321A/en|date=January 12, 2022|publisher=Google Patent|access-date=January 3, 2021}} It was manufactured in Shelby, Ohio, by the Shelby Electric Company in the late 1890s;{{cite web |url= http://www.centennialbulb.org/facts.htm | access-date = 2007-01-20 | location = Livermore | publisher = Centennial Light | title = Facts}} many just like it still exist and can be found functioning.{{citation | publisher = Centennial Bulb | url = http://www.centennialbulb.org/shelby-steve.htm | title = Steve's Shelby Collection | access-date = January 20, 2007}}. According to Zylpha Bernal Beck, the bulb was donated to the Fire Department by her father, Dennis Bernal, in 1901. 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.{{cite web | url = http://www.centennialbulb.org/newsppr3.htm | title = Light Bulb May Be World's Oldest | website = Centennial Bulb | access-date = October 14, 2009}}

Evidence suggests that the bulb has hung in at least four locations. It was originally hung in 1901 in a hose cart house on L Street, then moved to a garage in downtown Livermore used by the fire and police departments.{{citation | url = https://www.pbs.org/independentlens/livermore/place.html | title = Livermore timeline | publisher = Public Broadcasting Service}}. The bulb was saved during the fire station's 1937 renovation, during which it was off for approximately one week.

Its unusual longevity was first noticed in 1972 by reporter Mike Dunstan. After weeks of interviewing people who had lived in Livermore all their lives, he wrote "Light Bulb May Be World's Oldest", published in the Tri-Valley Herald. Dunstan contacted the Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and General Electric, who all confirmed it as the longest-lasting bulb known in existence.{{Cite web |title=Livermore's Centennial Light Herald: Jan 1972 |url=https://www.centennialbulb.org/newsppr3.htm |access-date=2024-04-18 |website=www.centennialbulb.org}}

In 1976, the fire department moved to Fire Station #6 with the bulb; the bulb socket's cord was severed for fear that unscrewing the bulb could damage it. It was deprived of electricity for only 22 minutes during the transfer, which was made in a specially designed box and with full firetruck escort. An electrician was on hand to install the bulb into the new fire station's emergency generator. Ripley's Believe It Or Not stated that the short delay would not mar the bulb's continuous burning record. Since that move, the bulb has run continuously on an uninterruptible power supply; previously it had only been off the grid for short periods of time (e.g. a week in 1937 for a renovation and the odd power outage). In 2001, the bulb's 100th birthday was celebrated with a community barbecue and live music.

On the evening of May 20, 2013, the general public witnessed, through a dedicated webcam, that the bulb had apparently burned out. The next morning, an electrician was called in to confirm its status. It was determined that the bulb had not burned out when the dedicated power supply was bypassed, using an extension cord. The power supply was found to have been faulty. Approximately 9 hours and 45 minutes had passed before the light was reestablished.{{Cite web|url=https://www.centennialbulb.org/campics.htm|title=Livermore's Centennial Light Cam Pics}}

The bulb is cared for by the Centennial Light Bulb Committee, a partnership of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department, Livermore Heritage Guild, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratories, and Sandia National Laboratories. The Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department plans to house and maintain the bulb for the rest of its life, regardless of length. When it does go out, they have no plans for it, although Ripley's Believe it or Not! has requested it for their collection of objects.

File:Dscn2286b.jpg

Several reasons have been cited for the bulb's extensive lifespan. Its continuous operation has largely eliminated the stresses associated with turning a light bulb on and off, the act of which causes the temperature of the bulb to increase and decrease. The bulb was made by hand, using a carbon filament (of greater thickness and strength than the tungsten filaments used in most modern lightbulbs) along with brass and glass components of high quality. The low wattage (originally 60 watts, now approximately four) and high nitrogen atmosphere inside the bulb have also contributed to its longevity.{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Thomas |date=March 19, 2023 |title=Why is the Centennial Bulb Still Burning? The Secrets of Livermore's 120-Year-Old Lightbulb |url=https://bayareatelegraph.com/2023/03/19/why-is-the-centennial-bulb-still-burning-the-secrets-of-livermores-120-year-old-lightbulb/ |access-date=April 16, 2024 |work=Bay Area Telegraph}}{{Cite report |url=https://www.centennialbulb.org/docs/centennial%20bulb%20report.pdf |title=The Mystery of the Centennial Bulb: an Incandescent Light Bulb |last=Kykta |first=Martin |date=2021 |access-date=April 16, 2024}}

The bulb was officially listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as "the most durable light" in 1972, replacing the Palace Theater Light in Fort Worth, Texas. The bulb was listed in the book for the next 16 editions. It was not listed during 1988–2006, without a reason being given, before returning in 2007.{{citation | url = http://www.centennialbulb.org/guiness.htm | title = Guinness page | publisher = Centennial Bulb}}. At least four books have been written about the bulb.{{Cite web |title=Livermore's Centennial Light Books |url=https://centennialbulb.org/book.htm |access-date=2024-04-16 |website=centennialbulb.org}}

According to the fire chief, every few months a news outlet will publish a story on the bulb, generating visitors and general interest, then it will drop back into obscurity for a while. Dozens of magazines and newspapers have featured articles on the bulb. The bulb has been visited and featured by many major news channels{{cite web |url=http://www.centennialbulb.org/articles.htm | title= Articles | location =Livermore | publisher = Centennial Light}} in the United States, including NBC, ABC, Fox News, CBS,{{cite news|url=http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu/program.pl?ID=222205 | work = Vanderbilt Television News Archive |title=Eternal Light Bulb| publisher = CBS Evening News | date= March 23, 1972}} WB, CNN and NPR. The bulb has received letters acknowledging and celebrating its longevity from the city of Shelby, Ohio,{{cite web | url=http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/shelby.jpg|access-date=2007-01-15 |format= JPEG | title= Proclamation: Livermore/Pleasanton California Centennial Light | date=June 6, 2001 |publisher=City of Shelby}} the Alameda County Board of Supervisors,{{cite web | url=http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/almdbrd.jpg|access-date= 2007-01-15 | format= JPEG | title= Resolution: Congratulations Livermore's Centennial Light, 1901–2001 | publisher = Board of Supervisors, County of Alameda, State of California | date=June 8, 2001}} the California State Assembly,{{cite web | url=http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/assy.jpg |access-date=2007-01-15 |format= JPEG | title= Certificate of Recognition |publisher=California State Assembly}} the California State Senate,{{cite web | url = http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/senate.jpg |access-date=2007-01-15 |format= JPEG |title= Certificate of Recognition | publisher = State of California Senate |date= June 8, 2001}} Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher,{{cite web| url= http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/tauschr.jpg | access-date= 2007-01-15| format= JPEG | title= Letter of congratulations |author=Ellen O. Tauscher |date=June 8, 2001}} Senator Barbara Boxer,{{cite web | url = http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/boxer.jpg|access-date=2007-01-15|format= JPEG |title=Letter of congratulations | author =Barbara Boxer |date=June 8, 2001}} and President George W. Bush.{{cite web |url= http://www.centennialbulb.org/awards/gwbush.jpg|access-date=2007-01-15|format= JPEG |title= Letter from the President | author = George W. Bush |date=June 1, 2001}} The bulb was featured on an episode of MythBusters on December 13, 2006,{{cite web |url=http://www.centennialbulb.org/mythbstr.htm |title=Mythbusters Interview |publisher=Livermore's Centennial Light}}{{citation | url = http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/episode.html | title = Mythbusters episode guide | publisher = Discovery Channel | access-date = 2006-12-18 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090823161257/http://dsc.discovery.com/fansites/mythbusters/episode/episode.html | archive-date = 2009-08-23 | url-status = dead }}. in the PBS documentary Livermore and an episode of California's Gold with Huell Howser,{{Cite web|title=Visit by Huell Howsers Cal Gold|url=https://www.centennialbulb.org/calgold.htm|access-date=2020-10-29|website=www.centennialbulb.org}} in an episode of 99% Invisible,{{cite web |url= http://99percentinvisible.org/episode/there-is-a-light-that-never-goes-out|title= 99% Invisible Episode 144: There Is a Light That Never Goes Out |date= December 10, 2014 }} and mentioned in the web series 17776.{{cite web |url= https://www.sbnation.com/a/17776-football/no-no-no-no-no-no-video|title = 17776 Chapter 17: No no no no no no. (Video)|date = 15 July 2017}}{{cite web |url= https://www.sbnation.com/a/17776-football/livermore-california|title = 17776 Chapter 18: Livermore, California.|date = 15 July 2017}}

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• Longest-lasting light bulbs
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• [https://www.centennialbulb.org Official website for the bulb]

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{{Livermore, California}}

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Category:Incandescent light bulbs

Category:Individual lamps

Category:Livermore, California

Category:1901 establishments in California