Coal+Gas+Light

Man lighting a coal-gas street light.

Nathalie Cavallo

=SHED SOME LIGHT ON THE SUBJECT-- = = the importance of gas lighting in the 1800s =

Gas lighting was a spectacular invention for the people of the 1800s, allowing them brighter light, longer amounts of time with light, and more affordable to have lighting



First used in a steam engine, socalled Coal Gas made it’s appearance to the ever modernizing world of the 1800s. The manager was so surprised and fascinated with this new coal gas, and experimented, creating many small coal-gas run lights. Samuel Clegg, an employee for the company that discovered coal gas, quit his job and set up his own gas lighting company: The Gas lighting and Coke Company.(1)

It wasn’t until the mid 1800s, however, that factory owners saw the potential in these lights. First off, they proved to be so much brighter than the oil-powered lights beforehand. Second, it was 75 percent cheaper than the candles and oil lamps of the time.(2) And most importantly, it allowed for more people to be working in factories for much longer periods of time which spiked the amount of exports, and the English economy as a whole.

Not only was the economy benefitting, but people in their homes benefited from this new invention as well. It provided great reading lights that sparked interests in different, new, and more educational topics which expanded people’s thirst for knowledge. Then, a few years later it was discovered that coal tar mixed with stone created a top layer for roads that made driving smoother and more enjoyable, as well as easier and safer.

1) Burchill, Shirley. February 13, 2014. 2) Et. Al. February 13, 2014.

Bibliography

1) Burchill, Shirley. "The Open Door Web Site : History : The Second Industrial Revolution : Introduction." The Open Door Web Site : History : The Second Industrial Revolution : Introduction. Accessed February 13, 2014. [|__http://www.saburchill.com/history/chapters/IR/050.html__] .

2) "Samuel Clegg." Wikipedia. September 02, 2014. Accessed February 13, 2014. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samuel_Clegg.