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Electric Lighting History

Many teams and individuals have been involved with electric lighting technology during the past 120 years. Their collective efforts turned the marvel of electric lighting into a mundane part of our technical infrastructure–and in the process changed the way we live. This section (to be expanded in future updates) presents some details of the history they have shaped.

 

 


Advertising: Ink Blotters

Light bulb makers have tried many methods of advertising their products. A common technique involved giving consumers (or retailers) a low-cost, useful item imprinted with an advertisement. In 1998 General Electric donated to the museum an archival collection that included an assortment of 38 ink blotters dating from early in the 20th century. Made of cardboard and measuring about 15.25 x 7.5 cm (6 x 3 inches), these blotters could be printed with the name of the participating store or electric utility.

Eighteen of the blotters are presented below. Click on any of the images for an enlarged view and additional information about that blotter. The General Electric Nela Park material is collection number 0789 in the museum's Archives Center. Researchers may view this material by making an appointment with the Archives Center.

All blotters images are reproduced through the courtesy of General Electric Lighting Co.

Clickable image of ink blotter: "His Only Rival"

Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda Lamp - Edison's Dream Come True"

Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda Lamps"

 

Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda"

Clickable image of ink blotter: "Have You Electricity ...?"

Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda, The lamp that makes the most...."

 

Clickable image of ink blotter: "My doctor said ...."

Clickable image of ink blotter: "The Edison GEM Lamp"

Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda Lamps"
 
Clickable image of ink blotter: "A Lamp In Reserve"
Clickable image of ink blotter: "Suppose you had a loadstone...."
Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda C Lamps"
 
Clickable image of ink blotter: "If you can get Better Light ...."
Clickable image of ink blotter: "By filling every socket with Sunbeam Mazda...."
Clickable image of ink blotter: "G.E. Tungsten Lamps"
 
Clickable image of ink blotter: "Be Sure to Protect ...."
Clickable image of ink blotter: "Edison Mazda Lamps"
Clickable image of ink blotter: Light up ... for cheerfulness"

 

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Patents:

Patents show the intent of an inventor and provide minute details of an invention.  Exploring these documents can give insight into the inventive process, and show paths considered but not taken. Also, patents sometime contain interesting examples of ideas that were ahead of their time.

U.S. Patent 223,898
-- Thomas Edison:
incandescent lamp.

U.S. Patent 865,367
-- Thomas Edison:
fluorescent lamp.

U.S. Patent 2,883,571
-- Elmer Fridrich and Emmett Wiley:
tungsten halogen lamp.

U.S. Patent 3,865,367
-- Frederick Mosby:
tungsten halogen lamp for the home.

U.S. Patent 1,025,932
-- Charles P. Steinmetz:
mercury lamp with halide salts.

U.S. Patent 3,305,289
-- Elmer Fridrich:
machine for making short-arc lamps.

 
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