Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1910-01-01

the early experiments metals which could stand
reasonably high temperatures without melting,
such as platinum, were tried but they broke down,
melted, before they attained the results of
a good carbon lamp. Experiments were continued
along these lines utilizing several metals
then. slightly known but never existing in pure
form. The first success was to the credit of Ger
electrical and metallurgical experts. Several
years ago. acting the principle starting
point that the light from incandescent lamp
fament increases progressively with the tempera-
ture of the flament, elaborate experiments were
begun in Germany to discover metal that would
withstand much higher temperature than car
bon. After the metal tantalum was produced
in its pure form it found to give most satis-
mactory results.
The chemical properties of tantaum are very
remarkable. 1t is very hard and only recently
has it been successfully drawn into wire. When
cold it resists the action of the strongest acids.
The ilament in tantalum lamp is about fifteen
inches long ooped many times on a spider sup
port. AS the ilament becomes soft when heated
to ncandescence it must be anchored at both ends
of the loops. The bulb contains a CLASSY rod with
platinum wires at the end and midway upon which
the tantalum wire is looped. These lamps require
only two watts per cande-power against 81 in
the ordinary lamps. This gives the man whose
house is lighted by electricity a third more light
for the same amount of money.
The latest and most valuable development in
the incandescent lamp field is the tungsten
lamp. These lamps made from still another
metal known tungsten. 1t is also Ger
discovery which subsequently purchased
by the General Electric Company and developed
to it's present state of usefulness This lamp con-
sumes only 1 to LIS watts per candle-power, a
saving of more than two-thirds in current con-
sumed in the ordinary lamps. This wonderful
economy is best shown by stating that with tung-
stem lamps substituted for the common incandes-
cent lamps in house lighted by electricity the
result would be three times much light for the
same amount of current and the same amount of
cost
The fundamental value of tungsten a lamp
fament lies in it's wonderfully high melting point.
1t is almost impossible to melt this metal AS a
metal, understand the word, tungsten is
practically unknown. It cannot be made into in
gots bar wire. In its usual refined form it ap-
pears fine steel-blue powder Because it
cannot be drawn into wire the lamp flaments
from the metal have to made in roundabout way.
The powder is mixed with adhesive paste and
squrted through die in fine thread This
temperature until the particles of tungsten are
practically welded together. The flament is then
looped and anchored in the bulb nearly the same
way a in the tantalum lamp.
The fact that experiments and discoveries with
in the past few months have resulted in in
candescent lamps which produce two and three
times much light for the same cost is very en-
couraging to those who enjoy electric lights. What
the future will bring forth is, of course, merely
speculation but there those among the worlds
leading inventors who say that the incandescant
lamp is still long way from the perfection it will
attain in the next few years to come.