Artificial Light

Artificial Light

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Title: Artificial Light Its Influence upon Civilization
Author: M. Luckiesh
Release Date: January 29, 2006 [EBook #17625]
Language: English
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[Illustration: LIGHT AND LIBERTY]

The Century Books of Useful Science
ARTIFICIAL LIGHT
ITS INFLUENCE UPON CIVILIZATION
BY M. LUCKIESH
DIRECTOR OF APPLIED SCIENCE. NELA RESEARCH
LABORATORY, NATIONAL LAMP WORKS OF GENERAL
ELECTRIC COMPANY
Author of "Color and Its Applications," "Light and Shade and Their
Applications," "The Lighting Art," "The Language of Color," etc.
_ILLUSTRATED WITH PHOTOGRAPHS_

NEW YORK THE CENTURY CO. 1920
Copyright, 1920, by THE CENTURY CO.

DEDICATED
TO THOSE WHO HAVE ENCOURAGED ORGANIZED
SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF
CIVILIZATION

PREFACE
In the following pages I have endeavored to discuss artificial light for
the general reader, in a manner as devoid as possible of intricate details.
The early chapters deal particularly with primitive artificial light and
their contents are generally historical. The science of light-production
may be considered to have been born in the latter part of the eighteenth
century and beginning with that period a few chapters treat of the
development of artificial light up to the present time. Until the middle
of the nineteenth century mere light was available, but as the century
progressed, the light-sources through the application of science became
more powerful and efficient. Gradually mere light grew to more light
and in the dawn of the twentieth century adequate light became
available. In a single century, after the development of artificial light
began in earnest, the efficiency of light-production increased fifty-fold
and the cost diminished correspondingly. The next group of chapters
deals with various economic influences of artificial light and with some
of the byways in which artificial light is serving mankind. On passing
through the spectacular aspects of lighting we finally emerge into the
esthetics of light and lighting.
The aim has been to show that artificial light has become intricately
interwoven with human activities and that it has been a powerful
influence upon the progress of civilization. The subject is too extensive
to be treated in detail in a single volume, but an effort has been made to
present a discussion fairly complete in scope. It is hoped that the reader
will gain a greater appreciation of artificial light as an economic factor,
as an artistic medium, and as a mighty influence upon the safety,
efficiency, health, happiness, and general progress of mankind.
M. LUCKIESH.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
It is a pleasant duty to acknowledge the coöperation of various

companies in obtaining the photographs which illustrate this book.
With the exception of Plates 2 and 7, which are reproduced from the
excellent works of Benesch and Allegemane respectively, the
illustrations of early lighting devices are taken from an historical
collection in the possession of the National Lamp Works of the General
Electric Co. To this company the author is indebted for Plates 1, 3, 4, 5,
6, 9, 11, 15, 18b, 20, 21, 29; to Dr. McFarlan Moore for Plate 10; to
Macbeth Evans Glass Co. for Plate 12; to the Corps of Engineers, U. S.
Army, for Plate 13; to Lynn Works of G. E. Co. for Plates 14, 16; to
Edison Lamp Works of G. E. Co. for Plates 17, 24; to Cooper Hewitt
Co. for Plate 18a; to R. U. V. Co. for Plate 19; to New York Edison Co.
for Plates 22, 26, 30; to W. D'A. Ryan and the Schenectady Works of G.
E. Co. for Plates 23, 25, 31; to National X-Ray Reflector Co. for Plate
28. Besides the companies and the individuals particularly involved in
the foregoing, the author is glad to acknowledge his appreciation of the
assistance of others during the preparation of this volume.

CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I LIGHT AND PROGRESS 3
II THE ART OF MAKING FIRE 15
III PRIMITIVE LIGHT-SOURCES 24
IV THE CEREMONIAL USE OF LIGHT 38
V OIL-LAMPS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY 51
VI EARLY GAS-LIGHTING 63
VII THE SCIENCE OF LIGHT-PRODUCTION 80
VIII MODERN GAS-LIGHTING 97

IX THE ELECTRIC ARCS 111
X