Gas lighting

“ At such a temperature the proportion of luminous rays to the total heat produced in combustion would be more than doubled, and the brilliancy of the light would at the same time be greatly increased. Thus improved, gas-lighting may continue its rivalry with electric lighting both as regards economy and brilliancy, and such rivalry must necessarily result in great public advantage. ”

“ When scientists learned by exploring flames that brightness was due to the radiation of light by incandescent solid matter, the way was open for many experiments. In the early days of gas-lighting investigations were made to determine the relation of illuminating value to the chemical constitution of the gas. The results combined with a knowledge of the necessity for solid carbon in the flame led to improvements in the gas for lighting purposes. Gas rich in hydrocarbons which in turn are rich in carbon is high in illuminating value. ”

“ As each innovation in lighting appeared during the past century there immediately arose the question of safety. The fire-hazard of open flames received attention in early days, and when gas-lighting appeared it was condemned as a poison and an explosive. Mineral-oil lamps introduced the danger of explosions of the vapors produced by evaporation. ”

“ The gas itself has a disagreeable odour before it is burnt, and so has the vapour of wax, tallow and oil, as it comes from a candle or lamp newly blown out. This concession proves nothing against the flame of gas, which is perfectly inodorous.
The gas-light flame is perfectly steady; a benefit which persons accustomed to read or write by candle-light, are particularly capable of appreciating. With the other modes of illumination we have never the light of the same intensity for two minutes together, independent of that unpleasant dancing unsteady flame which is so harassing to the sight. ”

“ The fact is, the glow lamp is only one more means (not without certain disadvantages) of producing light added to those which already exist, and of which the public have the choice. Now, looking to best means of lighting rooms, and particularly the principal rooms of a small dwelling-house, I beg to say that the arguments which can be adduced in favor of gas lighting in preference to any other means greatly preponderate, and that it can be substantiated that, light for light, under the heads of convenience, health, comfort, reliability, readiness, and cheapness, gas is superior to all. ”

“ In the course of a communication presented to the Societe Industrielle du Nord de la France by the manager of the Wazemmes Gas Company, he made the following remarks on gas lighting with high-power burners:
For gas of a standard illuminating value, the lighting power increases with the temperature of the flame. It also increases, under favorable conditions, if the quantity of gas consumed by the burner in a certain period is augmented. Thus, two burners consuming 60 liters (rather more than 2 cubic feet) of gas, placed in juxtaposition, produce less light than one burner consuming 120 liters. ”

“ In Germany 90 per cent. of gas lighting is on the incandescent system, and in England about 40 per cent. We may notice, as an interesting example of the fluctuating fortunes of invention, that the once doomed gas-burner has, thanks to Welsbach's mantle, in many instances replaced the incandescent electric lamps that were to doom it. ”

“ In recent years a great deal of study has been given to the efficiency of gas-burners, with the result that a high level of development has been reached.
Several methods of electrical ignition have been evolved which in general employ the electric spark. Electrical ignition and developments of remote control have added great improvements especially to street-lighting by means of gas. Gas-valves for remote control are actuated by gas pressure and by electromagnets. In general, the gas-lighting engineers have kept pace marvelously with electric lighting, when their handicaps are considered. ”

“ This limitation naturally caused inventors to search for methods by which the emission of light could be obtained from coal-gas otherwise than by the incandescence of the carbon particles contained within the 656 flame itself. A coal-gas flame consumed in an atmospheric burner under the conditions necessary to develop its maximum heating power could be utilized to raise to incandescence particles having a higher emissivity for light than carbon. This led to the gradual evolution of incandescent gas lighting. ”

“ The flame of a gas-light compared in point of brilliancy to that of a candle, is as the flame of a common oil lamp, compared to the flame of a lamp of Argand. The difference between a street, on the night of a general illumination, and any other night when the street is under the dull glimmering light of the ordinary oil lamps, is scarcely more remarkable, than the difference between a street lighted by gas, and one lighted by oil. ”

“ These burners also were all regenerative and aimed at heating the air or gas or mixture of the two, and they had the further drawback of being complicated and costly. Regeneration is a valuable adjunct in ordinary gas lighting as it increases the actions that liberate the carbon particles upon which the luminosity of a flame is dependent, and also increases the temperature ”

“ The 35 mm. mantle gives a candle-power of 400, with an intrinsic brightness of 20 candles per sq. cm.
The use of oil gas necessitates the erection of gas works at the lighthouse or its periodical supply in portable reservoirs from a neighbouring station. A complete gas works plant costs about £800. The annual expenditure for gas lighting in France does not exceed £72 per light where works are installed, or £32 where gas is supplied from elsewhere. In the case of petroleum vapour lighting the annual cost of oil amounts to about £26 per station. ”

“ However, since then so rapidly has the invention of gas-lighting progressed, that now in the present year of grace, there is neither City nor town in Great Britain of any note but what is illuminated with gas and has works for its manufacture in close proximity to the houses of its inhabitants. ”

“ The competition which has been started by the electric lighting companies has given a great impetus to gas lighting. A large number of improved street gas lamp burners and lanterns having been invented and brought into general use, the following particulars with reference to some of those which were tried in the City of Exeter may be of use as a comparison. ”

“ The principles expounded apply as well to gas as to electricity, and owing to the ingenuity of the gas-lighting experts, the possibilities of gas-lighting are extensive despite its handicaps. There are some places in the home, such as the kitchen and basement, where lighting is purely utilitarian in the narrow sense, but in most of the rooms the esthetic or, more broadly, the psychological aspects of lighting should dominate. Pure utility is always a by-product of artistic lighting and furthermore, the lighting effects will be without glare when they satisfy all the demands of esthetics. ”

“ It has been found by experience that the ordinary type of open arc lamp with vertical carbons included in an opalescent globe cannot compete in point of cost with modern improvements in gas lighting as a means of street illumination. ”

“ For many years no advance was made upon these forms of burner, but when, ten years ago, it was recognized that anything which cools the flame reduces its value, while anything which increases its temperature raises its illuminating power, then a change took place in the forms of burner in use, and the regenerative burners, introduced by such men as Siemens, Grimston, and Bower, commenced what was really a revolution in gas lighting. ”

“ No danger can arise from these lights in any way, but what is common to candle lights and lamps of all kinds, and is the fault of none of them. The gas-lights are in fact a great deal less hazardous. There is no risk of those accidents which often happen from the guttering [10] of candles, from sparks being detached, or from carelessly snuffing them. The gas-light lamps and burners, must necessarily be fixed to one place, and therefore cannot fall or otherwise become deranged, without being immediately extinguished. ”

“ Comparing electric with gas-lighting, the hopeful believers in progressive improvement appear to forget that gas-making and gas-lighting are as susceptible of further improvement as electric lighting, and that, as a matter of fact, its practical progress during the last forty years is incomparably greater than that of the electric light. ”

“ The most beneficial application of gas-lights unquestionably is in all those situations where a great quantity of light is wanted in a small place: and where light is required to be most diffused, the advantages of this mode of illumination are the least.—Hence, as already stated, the lighting of the parish, or street-lamps only, without lighting shops or houses, can never be accomplished with economy. ”

“ From the maintenance point of view, however, the invention is of far greater significance. As the gas is consumed only during the light periods, which are very brief in comparison with the eclipse, the economy effected is very appreciable. When the apparatus was first brought within the range of practical application, many authorities, which had become wedded to the oil-gas lighting system, wherein the light flashes are of long duration in comparison with the dark periods, maintained that the Dalén flash was too short to be of any value. ”

“ The principle involved in the magneto-electric and dynamo-electric machines, by which these effects are accomplished, may be traced to Faraday's discovery in 1831 of the induced current, but their realization to the labors of Holmes, Siemens, Pacinotti, Gramme, and others. In the electric light, gas-lighting has found a formidable competitor, which appears destined to take its place in public illumination, and in lighting large halls, works, etc., for which purposes it combines brilliancy and freedom from obnoxious products of combustion, with comparative cheapness. ”

“ While the theatres are open, the lights in the adjacent houses are low and feeble, often too much so for the necessary purposes of the consumer, but the moment the theatres are shut, the great quantity of gas which they previously carried off, being transferred to such of the private houses as continue to be lighted, the gas flames at the latter are raised to an extravagant height, and burn with an intensity which makes the gas light partake more of the character of a nuisance than of a benefit. ”

“ And thus we may compare the power of different kinds of lamps or candles, with gas lights of different intensities, so as to determine the relative cost of each particular kind of the combustible substance employed for furnishing light. For example; if a candle and a gas burner supplying coal gas, adjusted by a stop-cock, produce the same darkness of shadow, at the same distance from the wall, the strength or intensity of light is the same. ”

“ The workman is not called upon to exercise his own judgment, because, when the fire is properly managed, the evolution of the gas goes on spontaneously, and without further care, till all the gas is extricated from the coal.
No part of the machinery is liable to be out of order,—there are no cocks to be turned, no valves to be regulated; nor can the operator derange the apparatus but by the most violent efforts. And when the stock of gas is prepared, we may depend on its lighting power as much [154] as we depend on the light to be obtained from a certain number of candles or oil-lamps. ”

“ One of the most obvious applications of the gas-light illumination unquestionably consists in lighting streets, shops and houses; and let it be observed that as this is found safe and economical, it proves all that the most ardent friends of the gas-light system can desire. For in contending with the common mode of lighting the streets and shops, the new lights must beat out of the market the cheapest of all artificial lights ”

“ In fitting a house with electric lighting burners, the question of selection is best solved as follows: For the main hall and foot of the cellar-stairs, use the automatic burner. For other hallways, dining-room, drawing-room, and bathroom use ratchet burners which turn on and light gas when chain is pulled. For bedrooms use plain pendant burners; automatics and ratchets add an element of danger, in that they may not turn off gas, or may leak. ”

“ First, where we illuminate a room with candles or oil we are contented with a less intense and more local light than when we are using gas, and in a room of ordinary size would be more likely to use a lamp or two candles than the far higher illumination we should demand if gas were employed. Secondly, the amount of water vapour given off during the combustion of gas is greater than in the case of the other illuminants, and water vapour absorbing radiant heat from the burning gas becomes heated, and, diffusing itself about the room, causes great oppression. ”

“ And since this improvement, the use of coal gas, [278] as a means of illumination has become as general, and has been found attended with as superior advantages within doors as without, and hence a vast number of dwelling houses are now lighted throughout with gas.
Although there is no occasion therefore, to make provision for ventilating apartments where gas light is employed, on account of any odour which it can produce when honestly used, so that the combustion is perfect, yet on other accounts such means of ventilations are very salutary and necessary. ”