World’s Oldest Working Light Bulb Shines Light On Livermore

PLEASANTON, CA — The Centennial Light Bulb is still burning bright at a Livermore Fire Station as it has for 122 years, according to bulb expert and Former Deputy Fire Chief Tom Bramell of the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department.

Since its original installation, when it served as a nightlight for the volunteer firefighters known as the 'Livermore Fire Boys,' the bulb has been relocated between firehouses until it came to rest at Fire Station #6 situated at 4550 East Avenue in Livermore in 1976.

The famed bulb, manufactured by the Shelby Electric Company, is constructed of handblown glass with a carbon filament, according to the website that monitors its longevity. The bulb originally burned at 60 watts when it was first installed at the fire department on L Street in 1901. Dennis Bernal, the owner of the Livermore Power and Light Company at the time, donated the bulb to the fire department, according to Bramell.

Since it was first switched on, the bulb has shined over multiple fire chiefs and survived earthquakes and the global pandemic. It briefly extinguished in 2013 when the bulb’s dedicated power supply shorted out, but it came to life after 9 hours of darkness. The station has since implemented measures to keep that power supply regularly maintained.

The bulb is an illuminating piece of Livermore history, and technology buffs across the world have also sought to understand why the bulb still burns. The fire station has received multiple international inquiries from Europe and South Africa, as well as France, according to Bramell. The bulb even starred in a South African commercial about making things that are built to last.

The fire department fairly beams with pride over its famous bulb, throwing parties for the bulb’s anniversaries over the years. However, the pandemic put a damper on those, according to current Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department Chief Joe Testa.

“Unfortunately, the 120th birthday happened quietly as we couldn’t risk the bulb getting exposed to COVID in its old age,” Testa said. “But the prior milestone of 1 million hours burning drew hundreds of visitors to join in the celebration. I imagine the next will be when the bulb turns 125-years-old.”

The bulb burns dimmer now, according to its website. Experts say the once 60-watt bulb now shines at just 4 watts of power. Still, that’s bright enough to count for the record books.

The bulb is in the Guinness Book of World Records and was featured on such shows as “Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not” and “Mythbusters.”

To this day, it is still switched on, serving as a nightlight in the Livermore-Pleasanton fire station’s engine bay, Testa said. If you care to take a peek, you can see it burning on a Livermore city webcam, linked on the city of Livermore’s website.

Representatives from the City of Livermore and the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department say they intend to keep the light bulb switched on as long as it continues to shine.