Topic: Upcoming 1890 Edison Patent Trial Evidence auction

[Bernard C]

The auction of this fabulous historic collection of lamps is today, but there is a powerful and fascinating debate going on which will probably continue for some time.

Auction link

Debate link — includes links to more images and a short video.

Bernard C. 

[Frank]

The debate pooh-poohs the auction description - which was inconsistent in any case. It is one of those cases of adjusting the facts to fulfil a desired conclusion. Hopefully, the buyer sets the record straight.

The main relevance for these on a glass forum, some probably wondered, is that the humble lightbulb had a huge impact on the glass industry from c1900-early 1920's. By 1920 nearly every glass-works in the world was engaged in making lightbulbs and the light bulb is responsible for many glassworks vanishing in the 1920's as automation too over. Now one factory, in China, produces all of the world's lightbulb needs and in a few years that one factory will be gone too as the LED eliminates the need for the incandescent lightbulb. There are also a few specialist bulb factories scattered around the globe.

[Patrick]

Hi,  Lot 138.........  The light bulbs were UNSOLD .....Today.  
    Perhaps we will see them on Ebay
   Regards Patrick.

[Sklounion]

Frank wrote:
"By 1920 nearly every glass-works in the world was engaged in making lightbulbs and the light bulb is responsible for many glassworks vanishing in the 1920's as automation too over. Now one factory, in China, produces all of the world's lightbulb needs and in a few years that one factory will be gone too as the LED eliminates the need for the incandescent lightbulb. There are also a few specialist bulb factories scattered around the globe. "
This is correct, but I wonder sometimes if things will turn round. I'm thinking of Mullard, not bulbs, but valve manufacturers. The transistor nearly put them out of business, then hi-fi enthusiasts discovered that valve amps were significantly better than transistorised, and the market opened a little, and definitely improved after the Russian MIG pilot decided he would seek asylum with plane (Japan 1980's). Cold War laughs from the USA, when they discovered it was equipped with valve-based electronics........ until some-one pointed out that valves do not suffer from loss of power from the electro-magnetic pulse following nuclear explosions......
Merely an observation, and probably not totally relevant to glass, tho' valves are made of glass.....
Regards,
Marcus

[pamela]

Maybe Christies has withdrawn the lot 

[Frank]

I suspect that valves tend to get produced by specialist plants and some probably are still hand-blown. EMP effect is felt most on microelectonics but still has an impact on any form of electronics including valves. transistorised gear is easily screened and a faraday cage can be used to protect entire buidlings.