The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1880-01-16
THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE.
''NEw LAMPS FOR OLD w-EDIsoN's WON.
DEREUL TRIUMPH.

The New York Herald declares that
Edison has at last solved the problem OF
utilizing the electric light for street ilumi
nations and domestic purposes, aud dcvotcs
page of lctter.prcss and illustrations to
demonstrate particulars of the invention.
Edison long ago decided in favor of en-.
ploying incandescent platinum instead of
carbon points, and the electric arc for light
giving purposes, and he devised half dozen
platinum lamps, none of which were per-
fcctly satisfactory. The metal was found
to rupture and crack or else melt under the
high tnnaparatnre prndnnnd hy thA--l--.-:-
current. The nearest he got to success
with platinum was by placing the burner
in vacuum under glass, and he contem-
plated introducing such lamp to the pub
lie, although it was intricate, costly, and
required the use of an air-pump to produce
he vacuum. But one night, sitting in his
laboratory, he happened to roll piece of
lampblack mixed with tar in his hand, and
it occurred to him to try it as substitute
for the platinum. lie did SO, and from
this experiment his thoughts were led to
spool Of cotton thread. The satisfactory
light obtained from the tarrcd lampblack
had convinced him that filamcnts of carbon
of 4 texture not previously used in electric
lighting were the hidden agents to make
thorough success of illumination by incan-
dcsccnce, and it was with this view he
sought to test the carbon remains Of cot
ton thread. The thread was fixed between
two iron clamps, and placed in furnace
At the end of an hour its delicate carbon
framework was taken out. This slender
filamcnt Prof. Edison placed in a globe,
and connected with the wires leading to the
machine for generating the electric current
Then he extracted the air from the globe
aud turned on the electricity, and instantly
beautiful light greeted his eyes, growing
brighter and brighter as the current was
strengthened lie kept up his expert
mcnts, and determined that the substance
best adapted for carbonzation and the Civ
ing out Of incandcsccnt light was rapc:,
preferably thick, like ard,board, but giving
good results even when very thin. lie
makes the paper carbon now by cutting
from piece Of Bristol card board strip
in the form of Il horse shoe, about two inches
in length and onc-eighth of uu inch in
width. \ number Of these strips arc laid
flatwisc in wrought.rou mould, and scpar-
atcd from each other by strips Of tissue
paper. The whole is placed in an oven
heated 10 600 degrees Fahrenheit, and on
opening the mould the charrcd remains of
the card board horse. shoe are found. This
is placed in globe, the air is exhausted,
connection with the generator is made, and
the lamp is ready for use. AS completed,
it is a glass globe resting on a stand, hav-
ing exterior connections that lead to plati
mum clamps within the globe, the carbon
lied paper being supported in the clamps.
1t is devoid of regulators, as Edison has
discovered that electricity can be regulated
at the central staten, just rs the supply Of
gas is now regulated. Only the form of
the lamp needs to be modified to serve for
the table, or in brackets or chandeliers The
light can be produced cheaper than the
cheapest oil, and is altogether under the
control Of persons in the house where it is
used. Edison has also new style of gen
Grating machine, in which the pile Of force
the armaturc is made to rcvolvc at their
base. lie is understood to claim that with
this machine ninety-tive per cent of the
steam power revolving the armaturc is con-
vcrtcd into electricity, vast Improvement
ON any other machine ever constructed
From them the electric current may be con-
Quoted by the ordinary gas pipes from he
central depot to consumcrs. Edison has
also constructed an electro metre to measure
the amount Of electricity used by each h!.5usc
holder Tie UcoM states that he will
light up Meulo Park on New Years Eve
by tho process described, and show all the
world that he has achieved SUCCESS in pro-
ducing an economical and feasible electric
light.
TIE HERALD's COMMENTS.
The story told in our columns to-. day will
rcassure the public whose faith in the
Wizard Of Mcnlo Park had grown feeble;
will revive the general confidence in the lu-
turc Of electricity as the common agent of
domestic and public illumination, and may
possibly provoke anew the concern Of gas
makers. BY this story it will be seen that
Mr.. Edison has finally elaborated lamp
bo nS ,f, ,l,ct ;citv tbnt ic cip,N1nr ~,