Centennial Light

world's longest-lasting light bulb

The Centennial Light is an incandescent light bulb that has been on near-continuously since 1901. It is located at 4550 East Avenue, Livermore, California.[1] It has also been noted by Guinness World Records.[2]

Centennial Light
Livermore's Centennial Light Bulb
TypeCarbon-filament

History

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The Centennial Light was manufactured in Shelby, Ohio, by the Shelby Electric Company in the late 1890s.[3] In 1901, Dennis Bernal donated the bulb to the fire department after he sold the Livermore Power and Water company.[4] The bulb was first located in a hose cart house on L Street, and then moved to the main firehouse on Second Street shortly after. In 1903, the bulb was moved to the new Station 1 firehouse. The bulb stayed there for 73 years. In 1976, the bulb was moved to its current location with a police and fire truck escort.[5][6] The cord had to be cut to move the bulb, as the firefighters feared unscrewing the bulb would damage it.[7]

The Centennial Light originally produced 30-60 watts[8][5] of light, but it currently runs on only four watts.[3]

References

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  1. Century Light Bulb. NPR.
  2. "Longest burning light bulb". Guinness World Records. Retrieved October 16, 2023.
  3. 3.0 3.1 Group, Martha Brennan | Bay Area News (2022-12-29). "Shine a light: The East Bay bulb that's been burning for 122 years". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2023-10-16. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  4. "Livermore's Centennial Light Herald: Jan 1972". www.centennialbulb.org. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  5. 5.0 5.1 McFadden, Christopher (2021-04-14). "The "Centennial Lightbulb" and The Great Lightbulb Conspiracy". interestingengineering.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  6. "Livermore's Centennial Light Facts". www.centennialbulb.org. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  7. Live Science Staff (2011-06-21). "Calif. Light Bulb Has Been Burning 110 Years Straight". livescience.com. Retrieved 2023-10-17.
  8. Group, Jeanine Benca | Bay Area News; MediaNews (2011-02-03). "Tests shine light on the secret of the Livermore light bulb". The Mercury News. Retrieved 2023-10-16. {{cite web}}: |last1= has generic name (help)