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Show Edison's Jubilee Climaxing a series of celebrations covering a period of five months, the observance of the 50th anniversary of Edison's incandescent light on October 21st was a notable event. It was at Dearborn, Michigan, with Henry Ford as host and President Hoover, Mr. Edison and many other notables as guests. Among the incidents of the celebration cele-bration was the re-enactment of the scene in which Edison and his assi-ants, assi-ants, after countless experiments, produced the first incandescent light on Ocober 21st, 1879. At first carbons used in the lamp bulbs were very fragile, being made of paper and common sewing thread. An improved filament made of a strip from a palm leaf fan led to tht adoption of bamboo for the purpose. Japan and other countries being searcl. ed for the most suitable kinds. Bamboo Bam-boo was the standard filament material for many years. The carbon lamp was in general use until the development of the tungsten filament in 1907, which again revolutionized the lighting industry in-dustry as it was rapidly improved. The tungsten filament is stronger and has a much longer life than the old carbon, besides producing about four and a half times as much light from a given amount of current. All these developments of half a century have resulted from Edison's original incandescent lamp, although many other inventors have had a part in the progress made. Upon Edison's discovery aiso has been built the great power and light industry, which represents rep-resents and investment of ten billion dollars in the United States. The celebration of Light's Golden Jubilee was a fitting tribute to the great inventor, now 82 years of age and still working in his laboratories, adding to his more than 1,100 inventions inven-tions which, as Mr. Coolidge has said, "within a single lifetime have changed chang-ed the condition under which men live." |