Eureka!

Okay, next time we go to the bay area, it looks like we need to stop in Livermore because they have a light bulb that's been burning for 100 years now! Honest Injun!

The 4 watt bulb is 107+ years old. It was installed at the fire department hose cart house on L Street in 1901. Shortly after it moved to the main firehouse on Second. In 1903 it was moved to the new Station 1 on First and McLeod, and survived the renovation of the Firehouse in 1937. During it's first 75 years it was connected directly to the 110 Volt power line, and not to the back-up generator for fear of a power surge. In 1976 it was moved with a full police and fire truck escort to its present site at Fire Station 6, 4550 East Ave., Livermore, California. It was then hooked to a separate 120V power source with no interruptions since.

It's recognized as the oldest known working light bulb by Guinness Book of World Records & Ripley's Believe-It-or-Not.

Why has it been running so long? Well, it supposedly has a perfect vacuumed inside. Congratulations to the Shelby Electric Company for making a great light bulb out of handblown glass and a carbon filament.

And what has become of the great craftsman institution that made this bulb, you ask? They're out of business, of course. Sounds like they needed more repeat customers.