Mechanical light bulb from 1675 [video]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y-9GbsS9Fg

by kadohg • 8 days ago

63 34 8 days ago

ck23• 7 hours ago

for a moment I thought this was going to be about arc-lights in the 1800s that mechanically touch electrodes and then draw apart

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arc_lamp

it's amazing how far we've come

think about Benjamin Franklin twenty-five years before Declaration of Independence naming the first "battery" (out of the concept of lined-up artillery) by connecting a series of lynden jars (basically capacitors) - he also invented the concept of +/- positive and negative

now we've got space telescopes and probes leaving the solar system

imagine what's coming in another 300 years

ambicapter• 7 hours ago

naming the first "battery" (out of the concept of lined-up artillery)

That's an amazing fun fact.

throwway120385• 6 hours ago

Another fun fact is that it was impossible to deduce from any of Ben Franklin's experiments what material was transferred and what material remained in place to give rise to "charge" as we think of it. So he picked a convention that we've continued to use even after we learned that his negative charges were the material that gets transferred by friction.

ck23• 6 hours ago

somewhat more "fun" and impressive (despite useless) are "Franklin Bells" which way before anyone figured out electric motors, was the first example of electricity to mechanical energy

* https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_bells

of course incredibly crude

(imagine showing a paperclip motor to someone in 1750 https://player.vimeo.com/video/120255518 )

but it must be said, as genius as Franklin was, sadly he bears the original sin of owning slaves EVEN AS AN ABOLITIONIST and didn't free them until after his death (via will) - it's more than a little f-ed up

helterskelter• 5 hours ago

Franklin also invented the lightning rod, something which we take for granted these days.

ChrisbyMe• 57 minutes ago

For any SF based people the Roxy Theater in the Mission is one of the few operating theaters that STILL use this (bc the others burned down)

https://missionlocal.org/2025/07/sf-roxie-theater-projection...

if you donate you can get a tour :)

fhdkweig2• 4 hours ago

For those who want to read the wiki article:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barometric_light

post_break• 4 hours ago

I wish these could be made with something non toxic. Having one on my desk to shake would be a great fidget spinner.

janderson215• 3 hours ago

Just drink a little bit at a time to buoys up an immunity.

gwbas1c• 2 hours ago

To put it in perspective, people used to consume mercury-based medicine. I'm sure if the glass is thick enough, the risk of a spill (and your health) will be generally managed.

dandelany• 1 hour ago

People used to do a lot of stupid stuff. If you live alone and are conscious of the risk, sure, this is not a terribly dangerous item if you're safe about it. If you live with pets or children, it's entirely sensible to be concerned about the risk. A mercury spill can seep between the floorboards and contaminate your house with volatile mercury vapors for years to come if not properly managed.

s0rce• 2 hours ago

I suspect eutectic liquid InGa alloys would work, they stop wetting the glass when you are under vacuum. Although mercury is safe in the tube, just don't break the glass.

cush• 3 hours ago

If you've never seen neon up close, plasma is such an incredible light source. It's like the light is just floating being emitted from empty space. I took a neon workshop a few years ago, and it became clear why people are still willing to painstakingly make these signs - there is really nothing comparable to them, they're like magic

BugsJustFindMe• 2 hours ago

I wish I could just buy one of these as a commercial product. I'll never be able to make this and it's too cool to not be able to buy.

avian• 1 hour ago

Maybe someone that has seen this first hand can chime in but I strongly suspect the real-life effect viewed with naked eye is much more disappointing compared to what is shown in this video. Real physics ain't need to get them likes and subscribes.

ggm• 52 minutes ago

Is this "mechanical"?

Mechanical light bulb from 1675 [video]

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