A Brief History of the Light Bulb – From Edison to the Era of LED
The electric light bulb is one of humanity’s greatest inventions — a source of illumination that reshaped how we live, work, and create.
Although Thomas Edison is often credited with its invention in 1879, the reality is more complex. Edison created the first commercially practical incandescent bulb, but more than 20 inventors had experimented with similar concepts before him.
Edison’s success came from perfecting three elements:
✅ an effective filament material,
✅ a stronger vacuum, and
✅ higher resistance for longer lifespan.
Let’s take a look back at the evolution of light, from early experiments to the advanced LED era we live in today.
Early Light Bulbs and the First Experiments
1802 – Humphry Davy and the Electric Arc Lamp
The story begins with Humphry Davy, who in 1802 created the first electric light.
By connecting wires to a battery and a piece of carbon, he produced a bright glow — the Electric Arc Lamp. However, it was far too bright and short-lived for daily use.
1840 – Warren de la Rue’s Platinum Filament
British scientist Warren de la Rue improved the concept by placing a platinum filament inside a vacuum tube.
The design worked efficiently, but platinum’s high cost made it commercially impractical.
1850–1878 – Joseph Swan’s Carbon Filament
Physicist Joseph Wilson Swan created bulbs using carbonized paper filaments in evacuated glass bulbs.
By 1878, Swan improved his model with treated cotton thread, creating longer-lasting light and reducing bulb blackening — a major step forward.
1874 – Woodward and Evans’ Canadian Patent
Canadian inventors Henry Woodward and Mathew Evans developed bulbs with carbon rods inside nitrogen-filled glass cylinders.
Unable to commercialize their work, they later sold their patent to Thomas Edison in 1879.
Thomas Edison and the Birth of Commercial Lighting
In 1878, Edison began refining the incandescent lamp.
On October 14, 1878, he filed his first patent, “Improvement in Electric Lights”, and by November 4, 1879, he patented an electric lamp using a coiled carbon filament connected to platinum wires.
His team tested many materials — cotton, linen, and paper — but it was carbonized bamboo that proved revolutionary.
This filament could last over 1,200 hours, marking the start of mass-produced incandescent light bulbs.
In 1880, Edison’s company, the Edison Electric Light Company, began selling its bulbs — bringing safe, controllable light into homes for the first time.
Other Notable Milestones
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1906 – Tungsten Filaments:
General Electric (GE) patented the first method for producing tungsten filaments, a major step toward efficient lighting.
(Edison had predicted tungsten would be ideal, but machinery for fine wire production didn’t yet exist.) -
1910 – William D. Coolidge:
Improved tungsten filament production for longer bulb life. -
1930s – The Flashbulb Era:
One-time flashbulbs for photography were introduced. -
1940s – Soft Light Bulbs:
The first “soft light” bulbs appeared, creating a warmer tone. -
1950s – Halogen Bulbs:
Halogen lighting entered the market, offering brighter and more durable illumination. -
1980s – Metal Halide Lamps:
Low-wattage metal halides brought high efficiency to commercial use. -
1990s – CFL and Long-Life Bulbs:
The rise of Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) marked a turning point toward energy savings.
The Future – From Incandescent to LED
Traditional incandescent bulbs convert less than 10% of electricity into visible light; the rest is wasted as heat.
By contrast, LED (Light Emitting Diode) technology transforms nearly all energy into light, making it up to 90% more efficient.
Today, LED lighting has become the standard for modern illumination, offering long lifespan, sustainability, and design flexibility.
At Vitalux, we proudly collaborate with TUNGSRAM, the successor of General Electric Lighting, producing innovative LED lamps that continue the legacy of Edison’s first light bulb — now evolved for the 21st century.
