A Million Hours of Service

In the late 1890s, the Shelby Electric Company (Shelby, Ohio) manufactured amazingly durable light bulbs. One such example, known affectionately as “The Centennial,” is still glowing today. Purported to be the world’s longest-lasting bulb, it was produced in 1901. Now, 119 years later, it continues to burn dimly in a Livermore, California fire station.

According to a past “keeper of the flame,” the bulb was donated to the Fire Department in 1901. That year, the local Power and Water Company owner sold his business and gave the bulb to the fire station. The famous light was commemorated by a retired Deputy Fire Chief who wrote a history of the light entitled “A Million Hours of Service.”

The unusual longevity of this amazing little bulb was first noticed in 1972 by a local newspaper reporter. Since then, the Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley’s Believe It or Not, and General Electric have all confirmed it as the longest-lasting light bulb in existence.

Interestingly, the Shelby Electric…