In 1924, major manufacturers (including Osram, Philips, and GE) formed the . They realized that if bulbs lasted too long, they would run out of customers. The cartel standardized the lifespan of a lightbulb to 1,000 hours , even though 2,500 hours was the technical standard at the time. Members were even fined if their bulbs lasted too long. This was one of the world's first major examples of planned obsolescence . The Modern Alternative: LEDs
Today, the closest thing we have to an "infinite" bulb is the LED. While an incandescent bulb relies on a wire literally burning until it breaks, LEDs use semiconductors to create light without high heat. In 1924, major manufacturers (including Osram, Philips, and
Here is the true story behind "infinite" light, the engineering trade-offs we make, and the conspiracy that changed the industry forever. The Mystery of the 120-Year-Old Bulb Members were even fined if their bulbs lasted too long
The Centennial Light wasn't designed with secret alien technology. Its survival is a result of three simple factors: While an incandescent bulb relies on a wire