The New York herald., 1879-03-27
EDISON'S ELECTRIC LIGHT.

EDISON'S ELECTRIC LIGHT.
SEVERAL RECENT IMPROVEMENTS IN THE sYs-
TEM-A DISCOVERY OF IMPoRTANCE-LEss
THAN HALF THE COST OF GAS.
The first practical illustration of Edison's electric
light q system has just been given. For the past
two nights his entire laboratory and machine shop
have been lighted up with the light and the re-
suit has been eminently satisfactory In the chem
portion Of the laboratory two of the incandescent
lights supplied the place of the fine gas jets ordi-
narily In there, and In tho machine shop, q
building lbs feet long by rs feet wide twelve of the
lights did the work of the eighteen gas burners
previously used. The light given clear white
and steady pleasant to the eye and of such charac-
ter that coors could be readily distinguished. None
of the unpleasant glare noticeable in the carbon
light visible. The electric lamps regulated
that each gave light OF from eighteen to twenty
candle power in intensity. but the purity Of the light
made the intensity appear even higher. The gen.
orator used was the ordinary Gramme machine. said
to consume two and one half horse power but
which in reality has been found to consume three
horse power. The exhibition was Witnessed by
some of the leading directors of the company con-
trolling the patents, together with few scientific
friends of the inventor. ALI were much pleased at
the result.
THE LATEST IMPROVEMENTS.
The progress made during the past two months
by Edison has been quite marked. The light. in
stead of being at standstill, generally be-
lieved. has in reality been greatly developed. The
most prominent Of the improvements is one relating
to the platinum and iridium coil. By discovery.
pronounced by experts who have seen 1t of great
scientific Importance, Edison has succeeded in prac
tcally creating new alloy-one that possesses prop
ties hitherto unknown Its melting point is much
ooyery has proved most Valuable in CONNECTION with
the electric light Previously the best result which
the inventor could obtain per horse power four
lights, but by the use OF this new alloy he now OBJ
tans with six lights per horse power and makes
it possible. under certain conditions, to obtain
| high as eleven.
A BETTER GENERATOR NEEDED.
One of the chief difficulties Edison has had to
for his peculiar method In the of his expert
ments with the light he has used several, and con-
structed two or three Of his own but none of them
have come mp to his requirement.. The one giving
the best satisfsction thus far is the Gramme
machine; but that does not develop cleo
tricity with sufficient economy to satisfy him,
although from that machine he has obtained. as
above stated. ut the rate Of six lights per horse
power He continues confident that in short time
he will have succeeded in constructing a cenerator
that will give much better results But even with
the Gramme imperfect in many respects for incan-
descent lighting it Is, he manufactures the light
at cost Of trihe cent per hour for six
electric lights. His mechanics constructing
q generator, which promises to yield much
better results, SO far ss economy is concerned.
THE STYLE OF LAMPS USED.
Since beginning work the electric light Edison
has devised more than . Of lamps of different
styles. but ono by they have been laid aside
not coming up to his conception Of what he ought
to have. There now remain only two styles. which
closely compete with each other in point of ex-
celence. In both there is small glass chamber
through which passes the little coil which is made
incandescent by the electricity One of the lamps
resembles the ordinary students lamp. The other
is of globuar form and hardly rs handsome. Tho
essential construction Of each is practically tho
same, although there are some few minor points of
difference. The regulator contrivance by which
the electricity is turned of and on has been i'm
proved and is now much more simple than it was
originally the expansion of the air in the globe
ing to work it,
LEss THAN HALF THE COST OF CAS-
| The recent improvements which have been made
by tho great inventor have necesstated the changing
quite materially Of the figures upon which tho cost
of electric lighting has previously been based by him.
Lately he has obtained estimates IRON different build
OF the cost of engines boilers. dynamo machines
guarantees and with the experiments already made
by the lamps now in use tthe horse power consumed
being measured by dynamomctcr and the resultant
electricity by an eectro-dy namometer, the whole
duced to so many foot pounds per candle powcr)
he has been able to make the necessary estimates.
The results certainly startling. compared
with gas. as they show that gas must be made and
stored in the gasomcter at ifteen and halt cents
for each 1000 feet to compete with his system. and
with possibility OF further reduction by improve
ment. In one Of Edison's electric burners equal to
sixteen candles thore Is consumed 500 foot pounds
per minute, whereas gas jet of equal power con-
sumes ~ 900 foot pounds. eighteen times en-
ergy to produce the effect produced by the
electric light To put 1t in popular tcrms the
present estimates to the expense OF electric light
ing under Edison's system AZ made by him
figure the cost of electricity COMPARED with gas
less than onehalf or supposing gas to be furnished
At the rate OF 81 25 per LOO ect an equal supply
of electric light be furnished for 81 leaving at
that price fair profit tor tho company supplying
the electricity. The figures put forwardby the gas
companies Edison claims based error.
Those who make them do not he says. understand
his system, and he further claims that in many in
stances they estimate twcnty-four hours per day
the daily consumption, when. in point OF fact. the
consumption of gas or electricity will not average
for all tho burners than thrcc four hours at
the most.
ixcANprscExcE va. CARBON.
l. Among tho experiments frequently tried Of late in
between light produced by the carbon process and
that by incandcscencc In the centre OF tho labora-
tory, suspended from the ceiling by wires, IL a
bon apparatus. said to emit q light of 1000 candle
power. Last night the twelve incandesccnt lights
were frequently compared with IL to show tho rca-
tive quantities OF light The light from the carbon
gave apparently not more than three or four times
much light that given by tho incandescent
lights. What IL did give. however. was not nearly
effective for practical purposes as we're the twelve In
candescent lights.
by the lattsr tho mechanics were enabled TO do
their work with much facility as II II was day. but
during the time the carbon light was shining II
was noticed that many of the worfmen unable
to work, the hickering. unstcadiness and sharp
shadows from the carbon process being painful to
the eye. immediately i'm the vicinity of the carbon
the light brilliant and intense. but at distance
of thirty forty feet IL was very much decreased.
The scientists who witnessed the comparisons werc
unanimous in pronouncng In favor of incandesccncc
as much better adapted for practical uses
GETTING RKADy ron rHE PUBLIC.
The work in tho laboratory during the past month
has been assiduous. the machinery and mechanics
being kept gong until midnight every night Only
two things, Edison necessary before the
light can bc given TO the public; C. The nrst Is the
generator than tho one now in operation. Neither
OF these requirements IL regarded by him dfi
cult Of attainment Indeed, both might bc dispensed