Light Bulb Burns for 110 Years

After 110 years, it still shines on. A light bulb in a firehouse in Livermore, California has shone more-or-less continuously for over a century.

The little lamp keeps baffling its observers, according to the town’s retired Fire Department Chief, Lynn Owens.

[Lynn Owens, Retired Division Chief, Livermore Fire Department]:

„Nobody knows how it’s possible. It is a 60 watt bulb and it’s only turned on for about 4 watts but nobody knows why it keeps burning.“

The light bulb – a gift from a local businessman – was first installed in the fire station in 1901.

With the exception of a brief period in 1903, a week or so in 1937, and a few power outages between then and 1976, the light has beamed continuously.

That’s over 960,000 hours.

As it turns out, the hand-blown globe is indeed special in more ways than one.

It was a unique sample designed by a professor, Adolphe Chaillet, for a light bulb company in Ohio in 1897.

Steve Bunn, a member of the Light Bulb Centennial Committee, explains.

[Steve Bunn, Light Bulb Centennial Committee Member]:

„It was a very special bulb. They cost extra money, they took extra caution in making it and they inspected each one by hand.“

The bulb is declared the oldest working light bulb by the Guinness Book of World Records.

And hopefully it will outshine its record for many more years, past its 110th birthday on June 18th.

Foto: NTD