Longest Burning Bulb
“Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life’.” [John 8:12]
Hanging from a single electric wire in an old Livermore, California, firehouse, there is a light bulb. Not so amazing, you think? But there’s more. The bulb is supplied by 120 volts and puts out a meager 4 watts of amber light. You’re probably still not very impressed, until you consider this same humble light bulb was already burning when the Wright Brothers made their historic flight in 1903. This light bulb continued to persistently glow through WWI, the crash of the stock market in 1929, and on through WWII. At present this incredible light bulb has been burning for over 112 years!
The enduring bulb was originally made by the Shelby Electric Company in Ohio. The company had a legendary reputation for quality until it was bought by General Electric in 1914. This particular bulb was one of the early hand-blown models with a heavy carbon filament. Over the years there have been brief interruptions as the firehouse has been renovated and even relocated from its First Street location to the present site on 4550 East Avenue. But the same bulb went with them. With these minor exceptions it has been burning continuously as a nightlight over the fire trucks in the Livermore firehouse since 1901! This unique bulb has been declared by Guinness Book of World Records to be the oldest known working light bulb in the world.
The bulb has actually been nicknamed “The Centennial Bulb,” and there is a committee that oversees its protection. When it was last moved in 1976 the bulb’s cord was cut. People were concerned unscrewing the bulb might damage it. In 2001 the community celebrated the bulb’s 100th birthday with barbecue and music.
Did you know the Bible speaks of a sacred light that burned for over 300 years? Moses was given instructions on the wilderness tabernacle and its services. “And the fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it; it shall not be put out. And the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order on it; and he shall burn on it the fat of the peace offerings. A fire shall always be burning on the altar; it shall never go out” (Leviticus 6:12,13). That fire and its light represent Jesus, a Light that will never burn out.
