The bulb that keeps going, and going and going...
Friday, May 23

What does the year 1901, a 4-watt light bulb and 1 million hours have in common? An amazing story of a light bulb that has been burning for 107 years, setting a world record. The special bulb is the pride and joy of the firefighters at the Livermore, California firehouse Station No. 6. The light bulb originally illuminated light on horse-pulled carts that carried water to fires. It was left on all the time so that the firefighters would not have to fumble with lighting the wicks on their kerosene lanterns.

The bulb was manufactured by the Shelby Light Company of Shelby, Ohio. The bulb has far outlived the company which closed in 1914. The famous bulb has been featured in the book “On the Road with Charles Kuralt”, the Guinness World Records and Ripley’s Believe It Or Not, receives annual birthday wishes from radio legend Paul Harvey and even has its own website and webcam (www.centennialbulb.org).

So what’s the secret?
There are many theories, but it is suspected that the bulb has burned so long because it never gets switched on and off.

“How many firemen does it take to change a lightbulb in Livermore?
None, it never needs changing.”