Today, artificial lighting is in every home. Light bulbs are not a luxury item, but a necessity. In addition to their direct function - to illuminate the room, they have already become an interior item for us, with the help of which we can emphasize this or that style. With the help of lamps, you can create whole light compositions, make multi-level illumination, create light figures.
Edison lamps are now experiencing a rebirth, once again becoming popular. They came into fashion, having undergone colossal changes in their design, shape, color and lighting power. The best designers prefer them for semi-antique interiors, in the "loft" style. Vintage lamps look very unusual, original, eye-catching. The variety and wide selection of retro lamps can satisfy any, even the most capricious taste. But let's not forget that once they did not exist at all and the best scientists and inventors around the world tried to figure out how to create a source of artificial light.
A bit of history
It is believed that Thomas Alva Edison invented the first light bulb powered by electricity. His device was powered by a thread of coal inside. But this light bulb appeared somewhat later than its first prototypes.
Before Edison, many inventors tried to create an artificial light source. It is not known exactly who invented this. Light bulbs were created, varying in size and shape, powered by threads of bamboo, charcoal and platinum. Most of these lamps have been officially recognized and patented.
Among all these scientists, only Edison became famous. Although his light bulb did not become the first, it was the most accessible, simple and cheapest to use. Before the advent of the Edison light bulb, many experiments were carried out. For many years, inventors have tried to improve this mechanism: they created lamps based on various materials that conduct current, changed the principles of the mechanism. But this did not bring significant results.
The first light bulbs were invented long ago, but the problem of short-lived glow was still relevant. In 1878, Edison wondered how to resolve this issue. He carried out many experiments, trying different materials as a filament. After about six thousand experiments, he invents a light bulb that works forty hours on bamboo coals. Soon, Edison bulbs became popular around the world, pushing all other devices into second place.
When Edison was engaged in the invention of his incandescent lamp, he paid much attention not only to the very principle of its operation, but also to the design of the entire device. He invented the screw base, socket, fuse, meter, switch and electric generator. Most of this is used today all over the world.
To make artificial light available to everyone, Edison began selling his bulbs very cheaply for $ 1. He dreamed that, at the level of his invention, even wax candles would become expensive. Production was soon automated, which brought the price down even further to 22 cents. Edison bulbs have become available to everyone, without exception.
In the 90s of the XIX century, the Russian inventor Lodygin was able to increase the luminescence of the lamps, choosing refractory metals as the basis.
In 1910, all work on improving the lamps was completed. They were used by people all over the world. However, it was not possible to unambiguously recognize some inventor as the first in the creation of the lamp. Many scientists from different countries of the world worked on the invention of the incandescent lamp mechanism and its improvement. And only their joint efforts led to the fact that now all apartments, houses and streets have electric lighting.
Design feature
Edison's lamp works on the basis of a tungsten filament inside it. These threads can take many forms. Lamps have a standard E27 base, but some manufacturers produce B22 and B14 bases. These devices have low light output. Only 5% of the energy consumed by a lamp is spent on lighting, the rest of the electricity is used for heating.
Nowadays, lamps designed for old, but working according to modern LED technologies - diode bulbs are very popular. They work not on the basis of a filament, but on a thin light-emitting diode, which saves up to 10 times on electricity consumption. Such lamps are used to decorate retro-style rooms. Each consumer, having studied all the pros and cons, will be able to choose lamps for their individual needs.
Retro style Edison lamps are designed for use in any environment for the most common, standard networks. Their color temperature is very warm - about 2200 K (for standard incandescent lamps it is 2700-2850 K) Such lamps do not shine very brightly, therefore they are most often used as decorative ones. They create a very cozy atmosphere of the old days.
In order to provide sufficient lighting for the room, several of these bulbs are usually used. This new design technique has gained great popularity and is increasingly being used in the design of retro interiors. It is often used to decorate hotels, restaurants, cafes and shops.
Edison bulbs powered by LEDs have a distinctive characteristic - their color rendering index is quite high - 95 CRI, while the color rendering of other LED luminaires is 80 CRI. This suggests that when using such lamps, the colors of objects around us are not distorted.
It should be borne in mind that vintage Edison lamps, powered by an incandescent filament, and not from an LED, do not last long and are costly in terms of electricity consumption. They can serve no more than 2500 hours. Edison LED bulbs - 15,000 hours. In addition, they consume much less electricity, so in terms of benefits, they are the best option. When compared to conventional LED bulbs, which have a lifespan of 50,000 hours, they lose against this background. This difference in lifespan is due to the fact that the LED inside Edison lamps has a filament shape, which is very thin and fragile. This design is susceptible to overheating.
Dignity
Edison lamps have several advantages:
- They do not contain the harmful substance - mercury, unlike energy-saving lamps;
- The color rendition is at a very high level, the colors of the surrounding objects are not distorted;
- To use Edison lamps, you do not need transformers, unlike LED lamps;
- The filament can be made in the form of bizarre shapes, which helps to create an original atmosphere and unique lighting of the room;
- To connect an Edison lamp, you will need standard fittings and a socket;
- The lamp can be made in various shapes and sizes;
- Retro lamps create an exclusive interior, allowing you to get away from the accepted stereotypes in the issue of room lighting;
- The power of the glow can be adjusted with a dimmer, which allows you to create a unique intimate atmosphere.
Edison lamps are very popular and in demand, but they also have a number of disadvantages:
- Such lamps will not last long - no more than 3500 hours;
- The surface of the lamp gets very hot, which makes it very fragile;
- Vintage lamps are quite expensive nowadays;
- Retro lamps have a high power consumption.
Specifications
Edison lamps have characteristics inherent in all lamps of this type:
- For such a light bulb to work, the required network power is 220 Volts;
- Color temperature 2700 K, which defines light as warm (yellow or white);
- Such lamps are different in terms of power consumption of electricity (25-100 W).
Edison LED bulbs last much longer - 20,000-30,000 hours. The amount of energy they consume is much less, and they shine much brighter.
Among the countries that produce retro light bulbs are Switzerland (Richi Light AG), Holland (Calex) and China (Uniel). The quality of the latter is in no way inferior to competitors, and the prices are significantly lower.
Vintage Connection Accessories
Today more and more people prefer the retro style in the design of the premises. It can be either an ordinary apartment or a public place - a restaurant, cafe, hotel or shop. To decorate the interior in this style, it is necessary to take care of lighting, which would harmoniously fit into the overall concept of the style. Edison lamps, which are now experiencing a new wave of popularity, are the best suited for this task.
Thanks to the different shapes of the tungsten filament and the bulbs themselves, designers can experiment with lighting, creating new compositions. Edison bulbs can be installed in chandeliers, lampshades, or used as stand-alone lamps, perfect for industrial or loft style. However, you don't have to be a professional designer to add this retro light to your home decor. It's easy to do it yourself.
To connect an Edison light bulb, you will need:
- The lamp itself;
- Cord or stylized wire;
- Cartridge and other accessories.
Vintage bulbs are available in a wide range. They can vary in size, shape and shape that the tungsten filament takes inside them. Retro lamps add warm, soft, yellow lighting to the room. To connect them, you just need to connect electricity with a voltage of 220 volts. Such lamps do not need to be connected to transformers, unlike, for example, LED lamps.
Edison bulbs vary greatly in wattage, which varies in the range of 8-90 watts. Smaller ones are used to illuminate a small space, for example, above a table, combining them with the use of general room lighting. These lamps do not dazzle the eyes. In them, you can clearly see the bizarre shapes of the thread, which fascinates and attracts the eye. This glow resembles a sunset or a candle flame, which helps to relax and tune in to rest.
A wire is required to connect the lamp to electricity. To make it fit into the interior, you need to choose it in accordance with the style of the room. Edison lamp and decorative wire design will suit many styles.
If the room is supposed to be made semi-antique, you can turn to the design of the wiring, as in Soviet apartments. Several decades ago, wires were never tucked into the wall, they were always in sight. Often there was not one wire running along the wall, but several, woven together. Sometimes a special textile braid was used for decoration. Lovers of retro style can easily find such a braid in modern stores, where it is presented in a wide range of textures and colors.
The wires can not only be visible to the eye and run along the wall, they can deliberately hang casually from the ceiling, be intertwined, hang in the form of a garland or a bundle.
The third part for connecting an Edison light bulb is a socket. Nowadays there are many different designs of cartridges. Most often it is an attribute of the vintage style, which is made of aged metal of various colors.
To complete the retro style, today you can easily pick up vintage sockets, switches and other electrical components for every taste. To assemble the entire electrical circuit, it is better to contact a master who can connect and connect all the links without any problems.
Design and dimensions
Edison lamps can vary in base size and are E27, B22 and E14. Their shape can be very diverse: the classic, familiar to everyone, the shape of a pear, round large flasks with a diameter of up to 25 cm, long tubes up to 28 cm. The shape can expand and contract towards the end, be oval. In addition, there are special shapes: square, trapezoidal and even pentagonal in the shape of a diamond. Cylinder-shaped lamps are very popular. This choice serves as an excellentt for people with good design taste who enjoy the selection of interior accessories.
Lamps may differ in the shape of the tungsten filaments inside, which are:
- Hairpin;
- Leafy;
- Spiral;
- Herringbone;
- In the form of a squirrel cage;
- Loop-shaped.
Edison lamps may have more than one tungsten filament in their design. Several threads intertwined with each other is a design solution that attracts attention and makes the lamp very original. Their number does not affect the luminescence power, but it can affect the price of the light bulb.
Nowadays, silver-plated or gilded glass bulbs are in vogue, but the usual amber ones are also popular. Such lamps can be used not only in retro-style rooms, but also in classic interior options.
Features of operation
Like all appliances powered by electricity, Edison bulbs require certain rules when using and connecting.
- When connecting, you need to use only cartridges that have a certificate of conformity to GOST;
- You can not turn out heated lamps, you must wait for them to cool completely;
- You should not just turn on and off the light when working with Edison bulbs. Current swings from using the switch will wear out the lamps and affect their lifespan;
- If the lamp is used in a portable device, it can only be moved from place to place when it is turned off. Any vibration during operation can lead to damage to the mechanism.
Applications in the interior
A few decades ago, an ordinary lamp hanging from the ceiling was a sign of a home's poverty or renovation. Now such a choice of a lamp highlights the good taste of the owner, since such lighting looks very stylish. Such lamps can be found in luxury apartments or country cottages, decorated in a retro style or "loft".
The different purpose of the lighting fixture affects the choice of its appearance. Lighting can be general for the entire room or designed to illuminate a small area.
If the room is supposed to have sconces on the wall, they can be replaced with candle lamps. Candles with a yellow glow will look especially impressive.
To illuminate small areas, for example, near a bed or an armchair, where it is convenient to do handicrafts or read books, lamps can hang from the ceiling (most often in a single amount). For such purposes, it is better to choose devices that are round in shape. The wires can be decorated with multi-colored cords or coarse thick ropes. This will add completeness to the interior design.
To illuminate a large room, instead of a chandelier, it is better to use several bulbs at the same time as a common light source. They can hang randomly from the ceiling or be collected in a bunch. The more bulbs are used, the less wattage they can be.
Retro lamps can serve not only their direct purpose - to illuminate a room, but also be an element of decorating a room for a holiday: a wedding or New Year. In this case, they can be hung as a decorative garland of lamps. Their warm glow will certainly give an atmosphere of magic, celebration and comfort. Thus, you can decorate any room, both inside and outside, by hanging a garland in the garden, on the facade of the building. A gazebo decorated with garlands of incandescent lamps will look especially impressive and romantic.
Lamps can be used not only independently, but also be installed in lamps and lampshades. Retro lamps themselves look very beautiful, they are an independent piece of decor. If you intend to hang a lamp, it is better to choose it so that it does not distract attention from the bizarre shapes of the lamp or incandescent filament.
Vintage lamps inspire craftsmen to create the most unexpected lamps for them. Most often, materials are used that would emphasize the spirit of antiquity and comfort in the room: wood, metal.
Retro lamps create a unique atmosphere in the room. Their variety allows you to create a unique, creative interior. Such lamps will never be left without attention and admiration. They come into fashion again and again, each time undergoing changes and taking on new shapes and sizes. The main thing is not to be afraid to experiment and try bold solutions.
You can find out how to make a retro-style chandelier with your own hands by watching the video below.