COMMeMOratiVe ISSue - Illuminating Engineering Society

C E L E B R AT I N G T H E PA S T
C E L E B R AT I N G T H E PA S T
Lamp Technology
Ami Argand 1782, France
Invents what came to be called the “Argand
Burner,” which used a circular wick to
bring more oxygen to a flame, resulting in a
significant increase in light output. Uses the then-new
theory of combustion by oxygen proposed by Lavoisier.
Adds the use of glass chimneys for lamps.
ThE PIONEERS
As the Society turns 100, we present
91 individuals who helped shape the industry
It has always been intended that a list of notable lighting personages
be a part of the IESNA’s Centennial activities. However, lighting did
not begin on January 10, 1906, nor has it been limited to the Society
since then. The founders of the Society built on the research, development
and effort of those who had been there before them.
An initial list of lighting notables was developed by the past presidents
of the Society led by Richard LeVere. This was developed further
by the History and Heritage Committee, under the leadership of
Viggo Bech Rambusch, and by members of the Centennial Committee.
Valuable contributions of names were made by Prof. David Di-
Laura and more recent individuals were suggested by past president
Pam Homer. A number of others made suggestions, extensive or brief,
but always helpful.
A Centennial Subcommittee, asked to present a final
list, identified a total of 77 lighting notables and, based
on their area of achievement, separated them into
nine groups. The groups are lamp technology; luminaire
development; measurement; calculation;
optics/color; vision; education; application; and
design. Where they could be identified, the year
of each pioneer’s work and the country in which it
took place are included. The subcommittee members
also identified 14 industrialists responsible for
founding some of the first companies in the industry.
Not everyone on the following list is from North
America and not everyone was a part of the llluminating
Engineering Society. But each individual has,
in some way, influenced what we do today in our
work in light and vision and has helped us in the
ways in which we bring the benefits of lighting to
the user public.
Robert Coble 1955, U.S.
Produces highly translucent aluminum oxide (Lucalox),
enabling the development of high-pressure
sodium lamps, which helped transform roadway
lighting.
William Coolidge 1909, U.S.
Develops ductile tungsten wire, which represented a
radical change in incandescent lamp efficacy.
Peter Cooper-Hewitt 1902, U.S.
Involved in the development of low-pressure mercury
discharge lamps.
Thomas Edison 1879-82, U.S.
The Wizard of Menlo Park invents
the first practical, commercial
incandescent lamp and supporting
electric generation equipment
to produce the first incandescent
lighting system.
Elmer G. Fridrich 1954, U.S.
Discovers and uses the tungsten-halogen
cycle within a quartz bulb to produce
a new incandescent lamp. This greatly
improves lumen maintenance.
58 www.iesna.org
LD+A January 2006 59
Argand Coble Coolidge Hewitt Edison Fridrich Germer Holonyak Inman Thayer Langmuir Louden Schmidt Murdock Reiling Swan Waymouth Weisbach Yablochkov Blondel Dobras Stair Bunsen Dibdin Judd Kruss Nickerson Nutt