At a fire station in California, the world’s oldest light bulb has been burning for 118 years. By now not only the light bulb, but also the town Livermore are famous and are even in the Guinness Book of Records. On May 16, 2019 a report on the radio station, Bayern 2, from Markus Schuler once more drew attention to the centennial light bulb – an unbelievable story in the age of LED.

Something to read, listen and experience live!

She is mounted at a height of five meters on a black cord right underneath the ceiling in Fire Station 6 of Livermore, California. According to the Guinness Books of Records, she is the world’s longest burning light bulb producing light for 118 years.
On June 8 1901, the light bulb was switched on. A present from Dennis Bernal, the owner of the local “Livermore Power and Light Company” to the fire station, which was then located on the first floor of the city hall. Thus, the men did not have to illuminate first the kerosene lamps during night alarm to find their equipment.

The Shelby Electrics Company in Ohio manufactured the light bulb in the 1890s. It is a common carbon filament bulb just as Thomas A. Edison produced it in 1879.

The "Centennial Light" was originally a 60 watt bulb, but is now very dim, emitting about the same light as a 4-watt nightlight, which is probably the main reason for its longevity. [1]

Evidence suggests that the bulb has continuously burned except for three short interruptions. Two of those were due to relocation and one due to a building renovation. Lynn Owens remembers the second relocation in March 1976 very well.

Then he was head of the old fire station downtown. The fire station was to be made earthquake safe according to the regulations those days. The new construction of Fire Station 6 was considerably less expensive.

„Wir haben die Birne in eine Styroporbox gepackt und die auf dem Vordersitz eines Pick-ups angeschnallt. Dann ging es mit Polizeieskorte an den neuen Einsatzort“, erzählt Lynn, ein gedrungener 65-Jähriger mit grauem Bart und Dienstmütze.

„Der städtische Elektriker hat die Drähte miteinander verbunden, alle hielten den Atem an – aber das verdammte Licht wollte nicht leuchten. Da hat er ihr einen kleinen Stoß versetzt, und prompt ging sie an. Ich glaube, das war das letzte Mal, dass sie jemand angefasst hat.“

„Bloß nicht berühren!“ Das war die wichtigste Verhaltensregel, die Captain Peter Richert, der heutige Schichtleiter, lernte, als er vor zwei Jahren auf Station 6 versetzt wurde.

„Keiner will der Typ sein, unter dessen Aufsicht die Birne ihren Geist aufgibt.“ Das könne Unglück bringen, ergänzt Schichtkollege John. [2]

Das „Centennial Light Bulb Committee“ von Livermore betreibt eine Website auf der sich der Alltag der Glühlampe mit einer Webcam alle 30 Sekunden verfolgen lässt. Livermore wurde zur Stadt mit der Lampe.