When I was young, household lighting was simple. I can
remember my sister having gas lamps in her home. Maybe a mantle would blow, but
replacing it was not a problem. By today’s standards gas lighting was ineffective;
however, it was better than its predecessors: candles and oil lamps. Gas always
posed a danger on account of being toxic and volitile. One spark in a gas
filled room would bring about a catastrophic explosion.
Electric lighting followed gas. Back in the 1940s, so-called
modern homes were generally fitted with at least one light in each room.
Bayonet type incandescent bulbs between 40 and 100 watts were standard, and
they could be bought from a local store - even Woolworths for next to nothing.
Later in the 60s it became common to have more than one light in a room. Wall lights,
standard lights and table lamps were fashionable for creating atmosphere. Demand
led to the development of different types of bulbs. My wife and I had a fluorescent
light in our kitchen, because we thought it was ultra-modern complementing our ‘G’
Plan furniture. Anyway, it satisfied us at the time.
In recent years immense changes have taken place with the
development and marketing of numerous types of electric lights; there are
halogen, tungsten, quartz and LED lights. The priorities have been quality of
light and conservation of energy. Consequently there’s been a vast array of
fancy light fittings sporting numerous low consumption bulbs, perhaps as many
as ten or twelve in one fitment. The drawback to these elaborate fittings
is replacing malfunctioning bulbs. In my household, there’s not a month goes by
without me having to replace defunct bulbs, and they are not cheap, and
sometimes difficult to obtain.
Today, as part of my household maintenance, I replaced a
bulb in my kitchen. To get at it I had to employ a special wire tool for
removing a crystal shade before I could extract the bulb. Furthermore,
instructions on the packet containing the new bulb informed me that I was not
to touch it! Perched on a stepladder I found difficulty in delicately inserting
the tool into two minute holes and rotating it for unscrewing a retaining
washer for the shade.
Fortunately, I had previously handled quartz bulbs by
holding them with a small piece of artificial sponge that I keep for the
purpose. By persistence rather than dexterity, I managed to insert the new bulb
and replace the shade. I felt a certain triumph of achievement after overcoming
the difficulty, and I was chuffed that every bulb was working.
Links
Incandescent Light Bulb
The History of Home Lighting
History of Lighting and Lamps
The History of Fluorescent Lighting
Modern Electrical Lights
Lights and Light Fittings
What is Tungsten Lighting?
Quartz Bulbs
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