Longest-lasting light bulbs

The second-longest-lasting light bulb is in Fort Worth, Texas. The bulb, known as the Eternal Light, was credited as being the longest-lasting bulb in the 1970 edition of the Guinness Book of World Records, two years before the discovery of the Livermore bulb.[1]

The bulb was originally at the Byers Opera House, and was installed by a stage-hand, Barry Burke, on September 21, 1908 (1908-09-21), above the backstage door. The theater was demolished in 1977, and the bulb was transported to a museum located in the Livestock Exchange Building. Since its installation in the museum, it has only been turned off once—by accident—before being put on its own unswitched circuit.

Another working light bulb dating from 1908 is in Norway, in the "Kongevognen" (King's wagon) from Thamshavnsbanen railway in Trøndelag, Norway. The bulb is one of the original bulbs of the wagon that was ordered built by Christian Thams in 1908, and was delivered by the Edison factory in the United States. The wagon is now part of a museum, and the light bulb is in use several times per week.

The third-longest-lasting light bulb was above the back door of Gasnick Supply, a New York City hardware store on Second Avenue, between 52nd and 53rd Streets. It was installed in 1912 (1912), according to store owner Jack Gasnick. Apparently Gasnick tried several times to discredit the Centennial Light in Livermore. In 1981, he wrote to Dear Abby and claimed that the Livermore bulb had burned out, although it had not. In 1983, he wrote to Guinness and claimed that the Livermore bulb was a fraud. In his opinion as a trained electrical technician, the socket for the bulb was incorrect for its age. He also pointed out that there were no carbon deposits on the inside of the glass, unlike his bulb, which was filthy. He then declared his bulb to be the world's oldest, seemingly unaware of the bulb in Fort Worth.[2]

The ultimate disposition of Gasnick and his bulb are not known. The store, as well as the entire half-block on which it stood, was torn down in 2003.

The Mangum Light Bulb is located in the firehouse in Mangum, Oklahoma.

The fourth-longest-lasting light bulb was located in a fire house in Mangum, Oklahoma. The bulb was not attached to any special electrical supply, and when the power went off, so did the bulb.[2]

The firefighters in Mangum were willing to show people the bulb as long as they were not busy with something else. The Mangum Light Bulb officially retired (burned out) from service on Friday, December 13, 2019 (2019-12-13).

The fifth-longest-lasting light bulb was in a washroom at the Martin & Newby Electrical Shop in Ipswich, England. Given its shape and design, it was thought to date from the 1930s. It burned out in January 2001 (2001-01).