Around 70,000 BC, Lamps were invented. Hollow rocks, shells or other natural objects were filled with moss or similar materials which were immersed in animal fat and ignited into flames. Humans during those times then began to imitate the shapes of the vessels which seemed to produce flames. Man-made pottery was crafted. Such creations were made of clay, alabaster, and even ceramic. These became the first man made light sources. Wicks were added later, which somehow controlled the rate of burning and controlled the amount of light produced. Around the 7th century, the Greeks created terra cotta lamps which took the place of handheld torches. The word “lamp” was derived from the Greek word “lampas”, which means torch. Thus, the word lamp was born and the earliest type of lighting fixture became a part of civilization.
The central burner was invented in the 18th century. It was a leap in technology at that time when it came to lamp design. It had a tightly enclosed fuel source and an adjustable metal tube which regulates the intensity of the flame and also regulates the consumption of fuel. These were known as Oil lamps. At around the same time in another part of the world, in 1783 a Swiss chemist named Ami Argand was credited with improving the oil lamp by installing a hollow circular wick which was enclosed by a glass chimney. The lighting evolution was in constant growth.
Lighting fuels in the early 18th century consisted of nut oil, beeswax, olive oil, whale oil, sesame oil, and other similar substances. These were the dominant fuel types which were used until the late 18th century. In ancient China, the ancient Chinese gathered natural gas in skins which were then used for lighting their lamps. Lighting was no longer in its infancy stage. Who knew Cheap lighting already existed in those days?
As early as 1784, coal gas was first employed as a lighting fuel. Natural gas lamps were also more commonly being used. Kerosene which was a petroleum derivative also became more popular, which was earlier introduced in Germany in the year 1853. Drilling and mining for petroleum oil began in 1859. Improved fuel for lighting and lamps is here. The beginning of the industrial revolution is now in place.
In documented history, in 1792, William Murdoch first utilized coal gas for lighting his home in Redruth, Cornwall. That was the first commercial use of gas lighting. In 1799, “Thermolampe” using a gas distilled from wood was patented. Then in 1804, a German inventor named Freidrich Winzer (Winsor) was the first individual to patent coal gas lighting. In 1810, David Melville was awarded the first U.S. patent for the gas light.
In the early part of the 19th century, most of the cities in Europe and United States had streets that were powered with gas lighting in the streets. Eventually gas lighting technology gave way to low pressure sodium then to high pressure mercury lighting in the 1930’s. Electric lighting began to show promise. The development of electric lighting at the end of the 19th century began to replace gas lighting in homes. Modern lighting now had a clear place in modern homes.
The tungsten halogen lamp was invented in the 1950’s by the engineers at General Electric. GE was a pioneer in the lighting technology. This particular lighting technology produces very intense white light, with 10 to 15% more efficiency than ordinary incandescent lamps and also has a longer life span.
In the 1960s, GE did more research and development on the arc lamp. They introduced the foremost generation of metal halide lamps. These improvement lamps are highly efficient, even more so than the original mercury vapor lamps. The halide lamps give a bright white light tinged with blue. Ultra-compact versions are now available and installed in high-end sports cars or even used on some motorcycles.
The latest advancements in lighting technology have maintained focus on developing greater energy efficiency, longer life and diminished environmental destruction. One of the best lighting deals was born. As a result, towards the end of the 20th century, the compact fluorescent, otherwise known as the “energy saving lamp” was created. This invention became more accepted and widely used in both domestic and commercial applications.
Ongoing research and development have started to introduce the “LEDs” or Light Emitting Diodes. These have allegedly excellent energy efficiency and extra long operating life but are sold at considerably higher prices of course. Remarkably lesser heat is emitted yet it is as bright as energy saving lamps. Nowadays, you always have better alternatives like budget lighting and online stores offering the best lamp deals available. What more lighting advancements are in store in the near future? What are the next evolutionary steps in lighting?
The central burner was invented in the 18th century. It was a leap in technology at that time when it came to lamp design. It had a tightly enclosed fuel source and an adjustable metal tube which regulates the intensity of the flame and also regulates the consumption of fuel. These were known as Oil lamps. At around the same time in another part of the world, in 1783 a Swiss chemist named Ami Argand was credited with improving the oil lamp by installing a hollow circular wick which was enclosed by a glass chimney. The lighting evolution was in constant growth.
Lighting fuels in the early 18th century consisted of nut oil, beeswax, olive oil, whale oil, sesame oil, and other similar substances. These were the dominant fuel types which were used until the late 18th century. In ancient China, the ancient Chinese gathered natural gas in skins which were then used for lighting their lamps. Lighting was no longer in its infancy stage. Who knew Cheap lighting already existed in those days?
As early as 1784, coal gas was first employed as a lighting fuel. Natural gas lamps were also more commonly being used. Kerosene which was a petroleum derivative also became more popular, which was earlier introduced in Germany in the year 1853. Drilling and mining for petroleum oil began in 1859. Improved fuel for lighting and lamps is here. The beginning of the industrial revolution is now in place.
In documented history, in 1792, William Murdoch first utilized coal gas for lighting his home in Redruth, Cornwall. That was the first commercial use of gas lighting. In 1799, “Thermolampe” using a gas distilled from wood was patented. Then in 1804, a German inventor named Freidrich Winzer (Winsor) was the first individual to patent coal gas lighting. In 1810, David Melville was awarded the first U.S. patent for the gas light.
In the early part of the 19th century, most of the cities in Europe and United States had streets that were powered with gas lighting in the streets. Eventually gas lighting technology gave way to low pressure sodium then to high pressure mercury lighting in the 1930’s. Electric lighting began to show promise. The development of electric lighting at the end of the 19th century began to replace gas lighting in homes. Modern lighting now had a clear place in modern homes.
The tungsten halogen lamp was invented in the 1950’s by the engineers at General Electric. GE was a pioneer in the lighting technology. This particular lighting technology produces very intense white light, with 10 to 15% more efficiency than ordinary incandescent lamps and also has a longer life span.
In the 1960s, GE did more research and development on the arc lamp. They introduced the foremost generation of metal halide lamps. These improvement lamps are highly efficient, even more so than the original mercury vapor lamps. The halide lamps give a bright white light tinged with blue. Ultra-compact versions are now available and installed in high-end sports cars or even used on some motorcycles.
The latest advancements in lighting technology have maintained focus on developing greater energy efficiency, longer life and diminished environmental destruction. One of the best lighting deals was born. As a result, towards the end of the 20th century, the compact fluorescent, otherwise known as the “energy saving lamp” was created. This invention became more accepted and widely used in both domestic and commercial applications.
Ongoing research and development have started to introduce the “LEDs” or Light Emitting Diodes. These have allegedly excellent energy efficiency and extra long operating life but are sold at considerably higher prices of course. Remarkably lesser heat is emitted yet it is as bright as energy saving lamps. Nowadays, you always have better alternatives like budget lighting and online stores offering the best lamp deals available. What more lighting advancements are in store in the near future? What are the next evolutionary steps in lighting?
