The Speaking Telephone, Electric Light and Other Recent Electrical Inventions (Classic Reprint)

Excerpt from The Speaking Telephone, Electric Light and Other Recent Electrical Inventions

Within a short time past, a very extended application of elec tricity to illuminating purposes has been made, both in this country and abroad, and just new public interest in this matter is very much excited. It was a long time after Davy's discovery, that the electric current was capable of producing the most brilliant light, before the thought was seriously entertained of putting this agency to practical use as a light producing power. But with the introduction of N ollet's improved magneto-electric machines the thing soon became an accomplished fact, by which the solution of the great problem is to be attained Later and more efficient machines have rendered this application of elec tricity much more feasible, and today its field of usefulness for certain purposes is as clearly defined as that of steam itself. Whether the further introduction of electricity for domestic lighting will realize the expectations of many who are at present studying the subject, remains yet to be seen. The economical side of the problem is still a debatable subject, and one also of very general interest, so that it is not at all surprising, consider ing what has already been accomplished, that the public gives easy credence to many extravagant statements made with regard to it.

How much ground there may be for the anticipations of suc cess which are so sanguinely indulged in by friends and pro moters of the new light it would be difficult to say, as consider able secrecy is properly maintained in regard to the devices at present. What has been said on the general subject in the chapters on electric lighting will, however, give the reader a fair knowledge of what has already been done, and thus enable him to judge with some degree of confidence what probability of success there is in prospect in the immediate future.

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