Otis Singleton
The 1870s saw the invention of a practical incandescent lightbulb, which kickstarted the application of electricity in lighting. This development built on the work of scientists like Alessandro Volta, who in 1800, developed the first chemical storage battery, and William Gilbert, who in 1600, wrote De Magnete, a careful study of electricity and magnetism. By the late 1870s, arc lamp systems were being installed in major cities like New York, London, and Paris, powered by central generating plants. This marked the beginning of the Second Industrial Revolution, with electricity's versatility driving transformations across industry and society.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Electricity generation | Power stations were isolated and customers built and used their own power sources |
| Electricity usage | Reserved for large projects, such as lighthouses, or the homes of the rich |
| Power sources | Central power stations |
| Lighting | Arc street lights in major cities |
| Arc lamps | Produced strong white light, tended to flicker, produced a harsh light that distorted colours, gave off an annoying hum |
| Inventor | Thomas Edison |
| Year of invention | 1878 |
| Lighting type | Electric lighting |
| Target customers | Businesses and homes |
| Lighting system | Arc lighting running on alternating current |
| Lighting replacement | Gas lighting systems |
| Lighting challenges | Indoor use |
| Lighting solution | Incandescent lighting running on direct current |
| Incandescent lighting | Invented by Thomas Edison, marketed by his company |
| Incandescent bulbs | Invented by Heinrich Goebel, Alexander de Lodyguine, and Joseph Swan |
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What You'll Learn
Thomas Edison's incandescent lightbulb
The study of electrical phenomena dates back to ancient times, with the Ancient Egyptians recording the electric shocks delivered by electric fish in their texts as early as 2750 BCE. However, electricity remained an intellectual curiosity for millennia until the 17th and 18th centuries, when scientists such as William Gilbert and Isaac Newton began to make significant progress in understanding it.
In the 1870s, powerful electrical generators had already been developed, but they were still mostly isolated affairs, with customers building and using their own power sources. Electricity was reserved for large projects such as lighthouses or the homes of the wealthy. By the late 1870s, central power stations were providing power for arc street lights in major cities like New York, London, and Paris.
During this time, Thomas Edison began experimenting with arc and incandescent bulbs. He saw a market for a system that could bring electric lighting directly into customers' homes and businesses, a niche not served by the arc lighting systems of the time. Edison's concept was not just to make one component but to create an entire electrical utility system. He wanted to create safe lighting that included long-lasting bulbs and an inexpensive power source.
On January 27, 1880, Edison received a patent for his incandescent lamp, which paved the way for the universal domestic use of electric light. The patent was for an improvement on electric lamps, not the invention of them, but Edison's design changes and choice of materials, such as a carbon filament, made his lamp reliable, safe, and practical. This invention propelled the United States out of the gaslight era and into the electric age.
Edison's direct current systems were sold to cities throughout the United States, becoming a standard with him controlling all technical development and holding the key patents. Direct current worked well with the incandescent lamps, which were the principal load of the day, and it also had advantages with electric motors throughout the 1880s. However, the primary drawback was its short transmission range, which required generating plants to be situated in the middle of population centers. This led to the war of the currents in the late 1880s and early 1890s, as Edison's company faced competition from alternating current systems that could transmit power over longer distances.
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Arc lamp street lighting
In the 1870s, the invention of a practical incandescent lightbulb led to lighting becoming one of the first publicly available applications of electrical power. This was part of a rapid expansion in electrical technology that would drive the Second Industrial Revolution.
By the late 1870s, powerful electrical generators had been developed, and central power stations were providing electricity for arc street lights in major cities in America and Europe, including New York, London, and Paris. Arc lamps produced a strong white light, making them ideal for street lighting. They were also used to replace gas lighting, which was a fire hazard.
Arc lamps work by maintaining an electric arc across a gap between two conductors, usually carbon rods. The light comes from the heated ends of the rods, as well as from the arc itself. The temperature of the arc in an arc lamp can reach several thousand degrees Celsius, and the outer glass envelope can reach 500 degrees Celsius.
The spectrum emitted by a carbon-arc lamp is the closest to that of sunlight of any lamp. However, carbon-arc lamps also emit large amounts of infrared and harmful ultraviolet radiation not found in sunlight. Enclosing the arc in a glass globe can block many of these invisible rays.
Arc lamps were eventually replaced by safer, more efficient, versatile, and easier-to-maintain incandescent and gas-discharge lamps. However, carbon-arc lamps are still used where a close approximation of sunlight is required, such as for testing materials, paints, and coatings.
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Electricity for the wealthy
In the 1870s, electricity was a novelty, and its generation was expensive. Most power stations were isolated, and customers with the means built and used their own power sources. The wealthy, such as financier J. P. Morgan, could afford to build their own generators, bringing electricity into their homes.
The development of the incandescent lightbulb in the 1870s by Thomas Edison was a significant milestone. Edison's invention created a market for a system that could bring electric lighting into businesses and homes, a niche not served by the existing arc lighting systems. However, despite Edison's invention, it took a while for electric lighting to become commonplace in homes, and initially, it was only the very wealthy who could afford it. By 1882, parts of Manhattan were using electric lights, but it wasn't until around 1925 that half of US households reported using electricity in the home.
The late 19th century saw the development of the theory of electromagnetism, leading to electricity's industrial and residential application. This rapid expansion of electrical technology was a driving force behind the Second Industrial Revolution, with electricity's versatility transforming industry and society.
The early adoption of electricity by the wealthy can be attributed to the high costs involved. The expense of building generators meant that electricity was reserved for large projects or the homes of the rich. The first electrical wiring, known as knob-and-tube wiring, was standard between 1890 and 1910, and it required significant amounts of expensive copper conductors. Generating plants could only supply customers within a limited range, and the high costs of copper kept generating plants in the centres of population hubs.
Electricity's initial exclusivity to the wealthy can also be attributed to the time it took for infrastructure and distribution systems to develop. The war of the currents in the late 1880s and early 1890s, between Thomas Edison's direct current system and George Westinghouse's alternating current system, slowed the widespread adoption of electricity. It was only after the dangers of high-voltage alternating current lines became apparent, and direct current systems proved their worth, that electricity began to become more accessible to the general public.
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Powering American and European cities
The 1870s saw the development of powerful electrical generators, which were necessary for electrical lighting. Before this, electricity was reserved for large projects, such as lighthouses, or the homes of the wealthy, with most power stations being isolated and serving individual customers.
The growth of electrical power generation in the 1870s led to the creation of an interconnected alternating current (AC) power 'grid'. This raised the quality of life for people of all classes. The new electrical utility industry was unique in that electricity had to be used as soon as it was generated, requiring constant upkeep by skilled technicians and huge capital outlays. As a result, dense urban areas were the first to be electrified.
In the late 1870s, Thomas Edison began experimenting with arc and incandescent bulbs, aiming to create a commercial lighting system with long-lasting bulbs and an inexpensive power source. By 1879, he had a successful lightbulb and spent the next two years installing a lighting system at his Menlo Park laboratory in New Jersey. In 1882, he opened London's Holborn Viaduct electrical station and then turned his attention to New York City.
In 1878, at the Paris Exposition, electric arc lighting was installed along the Avenue de l'Opera and the Place de l'Opera, using electric Yablochkov arc lamps, powered by Zénobe Gramme alternating current dynamos. Within a decade, many cities would adopt lighting systems powered by central plants.
By the end of 1881, many American and European cities had Brush arc lamp systems, including New York, Boston, Philadelphia, and Montreal. By 1893, there were 1500 arc lamps illuminating New York's streets.
The availability of electricity in cities meant that modern electrical conveniences, such as toasters, were first adopted in urban centres.
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Gas lighting replaced
Gas lighting, which was first introduced in the late 18th century, was eventually replaced by electric lighting. The process of replacing gas lighting with electric lighting began in the 1870s and was largely completed by the 20th century.
The first gas streetlights were installed in Baltimore in 1816, and by the early 1800s, Paris and London had installed gas lamps along their streets. The light produced by the combustion of coal gas was far more efficient than candlelight. However, gas lighting also had its drawbacks, such as the need for manual lighting and extinguishing each day, and the production of harmful carbon monoxide.
The development of new alternating current (AC) power transmission systems in the 1880s and 1890s provided a safer, more efficient, and less expensive alternative to gas lighting. AC technology offered better voltage control, safer design, and reduced reliance on natural resources like coal and gas. This led to the rapid expansion of reliable and low-cost electrical power networks, which ultimately spelled the end of widespread gas lighting usage.
The invention of the incandescent light bulb in the 1870s was a significant milestone in the transition from gas to electric lighting. The incandescent bulb used a filament inside a glass bulb to produce light, and its commercial success marked the beginning of the end for gas lighting. Thomas Edison played a key role in this transition, as he began experimenting with both arc and incandescent bulbs in the late 1870s, sensing the possibility of a commercial market for a more pleasing light source.
By the 20th century, gas lighting had been almost entirely replaced by electric lighting. Today, gas lighting is mostly found in historical settings or specific applications, such as in certain neighbourhoods of Boston, USA, and in luxury homes seeking historical authenticity.
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Frequently asked questions
The first practical incandescent lightbulb was created in 1870 by Thomas Edison, marking the first use of electricity in that decade. This invention brought lighting into people's homes, gradually replacing gas lights and candles.
In the 1870s, most power stations were isolated, with customers building and using their own power sources. A few central power stations did exist, providing power for arc street lights in major cities such as New York, London, and Paris.
Although electricity seemed almost magical and was initially reserved for the homes of the rich, it brought several benefits. Lighting with electricity reduced fire hazards within homes and factories, as it replaced naked flames from gas lighting.
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