Recent Developments in Electric Lamps

Abstract

IN an article which appeared in NATURE last June the present writer reviewed briefly some of the improvements which had been made and promised in incandescent electric lamps. At the time that article was written, matters were in a condition of considerable uncertainty on account of the great number of new developments which had been announced, the value of which was, to a very large extent, uncertain. The frequent announcements of these improvements, which were appearing almost weekly, led electrical engineers to feel considerable hesitation in adopting any new lamp for fear that it should be superseded almost immediately after its adoption. Since that time the position has become much quieter, and during the past six months the solid progress which has been made in the introduction of these lamps on the market has been remarkable. Now that considerable experience has been obtained of the practical working value of the different types of lamp, a favourable opportunity is afforded of taking a general survey of the present position and prospects for the future. At the same time, a similar survey may be taken of the conditions existing in the field of arc lighting, in which the developments during the past two or three years have been almost equally noteworthy.