World’s Oldest Lightbulb Celebrates 107 Years Running

A lightbulb at a firefighters' station in Livermore, California, has been running for more than 107 years.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on May 29 2008

---

In general, firefighters’ stations are pretty high-tech. They’ve got the super-powered hoses, the anti-flammable gear, and the shiny red trucks, always ready to speed their way to an emergency with seconds to spare.

But at the firehouse in Livermore, California, you’ll find one exception to the ultra-modern atmosphere: The “centennial bulb,” a continuously-running lightbulb that recently celebrated its 107th birthday.

The famous lightbulb was declared the world’s oldest by the Guinness Book of World Records way back in 1972, and it’s kept going strong ever since.

“That bulb predates the atomic bomb and the birth of the automobile,” Tom Brammell, the station’s former deputy chief, told The Los Angeles Times. “I thought that for sure it was going to go out 35 years ago, but it fooled me. It fooled everyone.”

Filed under: General Interest, History, Weird,

---

Liked this? You'll love these, too:

• 

  Simon Dale Carves $4,000 Hobbit House Out of Hillside

  Simon Dale has carved a small house for his family out of a Welsh hillside. Read More

• 

  Astrophysicist’s Plan Cuts Airplane Boarding Time in Half

  Jason Steffen, an astrophysicist, has developed a new method for boarding an airplane that cuts the time in half. Read More

• 

  Harold Hackett Receives Thousands of Replies to Messages in Bottles

  Harold Hackett has sent out close to 5,000 messages in bottles, and has received replies to more than 3,000 of them. Read More

• 

  Pregnant Woman Amber Miller Runs Chicago Marathon, Then Gives Birth

  Amber Miller ran the Chicago marathon 39 weeks pregnant, then gave birth after finishing the race. Read More

• 

  Floating Diaper Saves Toddler from Drowning

  3-year-old Sariyah Michel was rescued from a lake, thanks to her absorbent Pampers diaper. Read More