Light Bulb

Platinum Filiment

Jan 1, 1802

Humphry Davy created the first incandescent light by passing an electrical current through a thin strip of platinum because of it's high melting point. It produced a bit of light but not bright nor long.

Arc Lamp

Jan 1, 1809

Davy also created the first arc lamp with two charcoal rods connected to a 2,000 cell battery.

Warren de la Rue

Jan 1, 1840

Warren de la Rue enclosed a coiled platinum filiment in a vacuum tube and passed an electric current through it. Although it was an effective design, the cost of the platinum made it impractical for commercial use.

First Incandescent Light Bulb

Jan 1, 1863

Heinrich Gobel claimed to have invented the first incandescent lightbulb in 1854 with a bamboo filiment of high resistance, platinum lead wires and a high vacumm. It was decided in 2007 that it was just a legend that his was the first but that he had created one.

Incandescent Light Bulb

Jan 31, 1872

Alexander Lodygin invented an incandescent light bulb and obtained a Russian patent in 1874

First Long Lasting Light Bulb

Oct 22, 1879

Thomas Edison used a carbon filiment and designed a light bulb which lasted for 13.5 hours

Thomas Edison's Light Bulb

Nov 4, 1879

Thomas Edison recieved a patent for his design which he improved to last even longer. This light bulb is what the light bulb everyone uses today is based on.