this post was submitted on 30 Jul 2024
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That is mostly a myth. They did agree of the lifetime, but it wasn't planned obsolescence like people act. The lifetime of a bulb is directly related to how bright it is. If you make a really dim bulb it lasts a long time, which is how that one in the firehouse is still alive. It's so dim it's effectively useless. The group met to decide on a luminosity target, which also is a lifespan target effectively.
Yes, A dim bulb is extremely inefficient, it will use a lot of electricity for a very small amount of light.
On the other hand you can make very efficient lightbulb that will be very bright for a small amount of electricity but last only for a few minutes.
The 1000 hours limits is a nice middle ground.
And what of the noble gas filled bulbs that were both brighter and longer lasting?
i mean, all incandecant bulbs are filled with a noble gas, Argon. If they didnt any bulb would have a lifespan measured in seconds.
Back in the 1920's and earlier they were commonly just in a vacuum.
Not if you read/believe most of the info on the wiki. US government fined GE over it in 1949.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoebus_cartel
No, even the wiki (under "purpose") says the myth is probably not true. It was a cartel though, and therefore illegal in many/most places. It just wasn't because the planned obsolescence. Lowering lifespan also led to selling more bulbs though, so it was useful for that.