Artificial Light: Its Influence Upon Civilization

Part 1

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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 cooeperation 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

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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 THE ELECTRIC INCANDESCENT FILAMENT LAMPS 127

XI THE LIGHT OF THE FUTURE 143

XII LIGHTING THE STREETS 152

XIII LIGHTHOUSES 163

XIV ARTIFICIAL LIGHT IN WARFARE 178

XV SIGNALING 194

XVI THE COST OF LIGHT 208

XVII LIGHT AND SAFETY 225

XVIII THE COST OF LIVING 238

XIX ARTIFICIAL LIGHT AND CHEMISTRY 256

XX LIGHT AND HEALTH 269

XXI MODIFYING ARTIFICIAL LIGHT 284

XXII SPECTACULAR LIGHTING 298

XXIII THE EXPRESSIVENESS OF LIGHT 310

XXIV LIGHTING THE HOME 325

XXV LIGHTING--A FINE ART? 341

READING REFERENCES 357

INDEX 359

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

Light and Liberty Frontispiece FACING PAGE Primitive fire-baskets 16

Crude splinter-holders 16

Early open-flame oil and grease lamps 17

A typical metal multiple-wick open-flame oil-lamp 32

Part 3

A group of oil-lamps of two centuries ago 33

Lamps of a century or two ago 56

Elaborate fixtures of the age of candles 57

Flame arc 128

Direct current arc 128

On the testing-racks of the manufacturer of incandescent filament lamps 129

Carbon-dioxide tube for accurate color-matching 160

The Moore nitrogen tube 160

Modern street lighting 161

A completed lighthouse lens 176

Torro Point Lighthouse, Panama Canal 176

American search-light position on Western Front in 1919 177

American standard field search-light and power unit 177

Signal-light for airplane 232

Trench light-signaling outfit 232

Aviation field light-signal projector 232

Signal search-light for airplane 232

Unsafe, unproductive lighting worthy of the dark ages 233

The same factory made safe, cheerful, and more productive by modern lighting 233

Locomotive electric headlight 240

Search-light on a fire-boat 240

Building ships under artificial light at Hog Island Shipyard 241

Artificial light in photography 256

Sterilizing water with radiant energy from quartz mercury-arcs 257

Judging color under artificial daylight 272

Artificial daylight 273

Fireworks and illuminated battle-fleet at Hudson-Fulton Celebration 288

Fireworks exhibition on May Day at Panama-Pacific Exposition 289

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The new flood lighting contrasted with the old outline lighting 304

Niagara Falls flooded with light 305

Artificial light honoring those who fell and those who returned 320

The expressiveness of light in churches 321

Obtaining two different moods in a room by a portable lamp which supplies direct and indirect components of light 336

The lights of New York City 337

Artificial light in community affairs 352

Panama-Pacific Exposition 353

ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

LIGHT AND PROGRESS

The human race was born in slavery, totally subservient to nature. The earliest primitive beings feasted or starved according to nature's bounty and sweltered or shivered according to the weather. When night fell they sought shelter with animal instinct, for not only were activities almost completely curtailed by darkness but beyond its screen lurked many dangers. It is interesting to philosophize upon a distinction between a human being and the animal just below him in the scale, but it may serve the present purpose to distinguish the human being as that animal in whom there is an unquenchable and insatiable desire for independence. The effort to escape from the bondage of nature is not solely a human instinct; animals burrow or build retreats through the instinct of self-preservation. But this instinct in animals is soon satisfied, whereas in human beings it has been leading ever onward toward complete emancipation.

The progress of civilization is a long chain of countless achievements each one of which has increased man's independence. Early man perhaps did not conceive the idea of fire and then set out to produce it. His infant mind did not operate in this manner. But when he accidentally struck a spark, produced fire by friction, or discovered it in some other manner, he saw its possibility. It is thrilling to picture primitive man at his first bonfire, enjoying the warmth, or at least interested in it. But how wonderful it must have become as twilight's curtain was drawn across the heavens! This controllable fire emitted light. It is easy to imagine primitive man pondering over this phenomenon with his sluggish mind. Doubtless he cautiously picked up a flaming stick and timidly explored the crowding darkness. Perhaps he carried it into his cave and behold! night had retreated from his abode! No longer was it necessary for him to retire to his bed of leaves when daylight failed. The fire not only banished the chill of night but was a power over darkness. Viewed from the standpoint of civilization, its discovery was one of the greatest strides along the highway of human progress. The activities of man were no longer bounded by sunrise and sunset. The march of civilization had begun.

In the present age of abundant artificial light, with its manifold light-sources and accessories which have made possible countless applications of light, mankind does not realize the importance of this comfort. Its wonderful convenience and omnipresence have resulted in indifference toward it by mankind in general, notwithstanding the fact that it is essential to man's most important and educative sense. By extinguishing the light and pondering upon his helplessness in the resulting darkness, man may gain an idea of its overwhelming importance. Those unfortunate persons who suffer the terrible calamity of blindness after years of dependence upon sight will testify in heartrending terms to the importance of light. Milton, whose eyesight had failed, laments,

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