History of the light bulb

  • Humphry Davy invented the first electric light

    However, it was too bright, and didn't last long
  • Warren de la Rue discovers a different bulb

    He used a platinum filament for his bulb. It was effective but it was too expensive to commercialise.
  • Period: to

    Joseph Wilson Swan works for a better bulb

    He created a bulb with a carbonized paper filament in an evacuated glass bulb. Due to bad vacuums and electricity it didn't work we'll. However in 1870 when their was more electricity and better vacuums he continued his work. In 1878 he developed a light bulb with a treated cotton thread.
  • Period: to

    Thomas Edison discovers "first" light bulb

    Thomas Edison worked on developing a practical incandescent lamp before he made one with a carbon filament in 1879. He then realised that a carbonised bamboo filament could last much longer. He then commercially manufactured light bulbs for Edison Electric Light Company in 1880
  • Fluorescent lamp invented

    Edmund Germer developed the first fluorescent lamp.
  • LED light

    Shuji Nukumara discovers the very efficient LED light. Since then, energy costs have been greatly reduced due to the efficiency of LED lights.