The Industrial Revolution was marked by invention, early machinery, and mass production. Likewise, modern methods of supplying fuel, preserving food, producing clothes, and providing health care began with the Industrial Revolution. And a crucial common factor across the modernization of these industries? 

Light bulbs.

Let’s set the stage. As the global population increased in the 1800s, a vicious cycle emerged. With more food, medicine, and shelter available, more children survived to adulthood. More adults meant more families with children, creating greater demand again. So over and over, more people were born and lived longer than before and increased demands on the global economy.

As early supply chains attempted to provide basics to the growing population, its success led to more people surviving.

The Industrial Revolution characterizes an era of inventors, undoubtedly fueled to relieve suffering and improve old methods. In short, it was an attempt to tame this cycle by providing more goods faster, easier, and in better conditions.

But the trouble was, demands for goods often rose faster than was safe to produce them. As a result, many industries struggled to find ways to increase production, but the light of a candle could only go so far into the night, and it came with dangerous risks and consequences.

Coal Miners: The Backbone of the Industrial Revolution

Let’s start with some of the most heavily relied-upon characters of the Industrial Revolution– coal miners. As demands for residential heat grew, so did the need for fuel for factories and trains.

Coal miners dug deep underground to supply the world with the required fuel. It was dangerous work, not only because of the use of explosives underground but because it was so dark. Lack of proper light made accidents common and kept production slow.

Candlelight was the only source of artificial light then. This posed a problem because mines often release flammable gases. The slightest fire exposure in the tunnels regularly resulted in explosions with hundreds dead. Inventors tried– but were unsuccessful– to create proper fire shields. As the need for coal grew, so did the number of fire-related incidents and deaths in the coal mines.

Reducing Fire Risk in Textile Factories

Another significant mark of the Industrial Revolution was the beginning of mass-produced clothing. Before factories existed, most clothing was tailor-made for each family member. Wealthy families hired sewists, and low-income families made their own clothing.

Textile factories promised to speed clothing production and free up time for other work. But unfortunately, textile factory workers faced a similar problem to that of the coal miners. 

Before making clothing, cotton had to be spun into thread, then woven into fabric. This fabric would then be cut into patterns and sewn into finished clothing. The system of processing cotton led to very dusty rooms filled with tiny floating pieces of raw cotton. Even the smallest flame could catch the floating cotton, creating a runaway fire in moments. These fires took down entire factories in moments, often with few survivors.

Unlike the miners, textile workers could use the light of day through windows. But there was little sunlight in rainy regions or during the winters. So textile production had to slow or risk the use of candlelight according to the weather or season.

Here again, the invention of the electric light bulb allowed for safer work and better conditions for these workers. Electric light reduced the strain on workers and evened out available work hours. The growing population could now count on having enough clothing.

Impact on Food Preservation

The United States population exploded between the 1800s and 1900s as territory expanded. Consequently, the demand for food increased with these settlements and cities.

People’s access to food in the early 1900s was determined mainly by what they could grow themselves. You would eat some of the fresh food you could grow during the summer and store the rest to survive the cold winters. As a result, starvation was a constant threat, and malnutrition was common.

During the Industrial Revolution, many factories opened and started to mass-produce canned food. While canning factories did not risk the same dangerous fire as miners and textile workers, they still had limited light.

Enabling Quality Healthcare

Finally, light bulbs improved the quality of healthcare in hospitals around the globe. The 1800s showed a marked increase in understanding human anatomy and how to save a person’s life after a severe injury.

However, medical attention requires detailed work, and poor sanitation and techniques cost thousands if not hundreds of thousands of lives. Even the simple fact that candles and firelight distort color made it difficult for early medical professionals to accurately gauge a patient’s health status. 

Beyond surgeries, hospital care, or home visits, the development of new medicines was also limited before the Industrial Revolution. For example, penicillin was developed in the 1920s – 1940s and is widely regarded as the first true antibiotic. The drug was developed through the work of many scientists observing bacteria cultures in universities, and it saved countless lives during World War II alone.

Although light bulbs alone did not allow for the creation of penicillin, the availability of consistent light (partnered with microscopes and other technology) is clearly linked with a massive spike in new medication since the early 1900s. 

Lightbulbs: The Unsung Hero of an Industrialized World

We owe our modern, comfortable world to many inventions of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Still, there is no doubt that none of them would have been as successful without the invention of the electric light bulb. And so, the ordinary light bulb is the unsung hero of the modernization of the world.

So, the invention of the electric light bulb created the possibility of an industrialized, modern world– a world where people had enough heat, food, and medicine. The light bulb allowed for safer working conditions and paved the way for other inventions that advanced humanity as a whole.

Electric light provided bright, steady light for miners without a significant risk of explosion. As a result, artificial light significantly reduced the number of deaths. As a bonus, it also allowed them to work faster. Thus, miners could better fuel the world, unleashing the Industrial Revolution.

Food production through factories was unleashed with electric lights. The world now had an efficient and cheap process to provide food that could last months or years on the shelf.

As one could imagine, electric light significantly improved healthcare quality. Surgeries were performed with much better lighting, and follow-up care received better attention. Doctors and nurses could discover infections faster and perform precision work with accuracy.

Aside from hospital care, proper lighting enabled the creation of new medicines and techniques. Electric lighting was not the only factor to decrease medical-related deaths. Still, the widespread availability of steady light enabled doctors and scientists to make significant strides in proper care.

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At Lit Living, we are proudly following in the footsteps of these early lighting engineers. We are just as passionate about lighting the world as they were as we supply homes and businesses with the latest designs and functionality. Talk with an expert at All-Phasetoday to get custom advice on your lighting needs.

Contractors: 6 Reasons You Should Ditch the Hardware Store Lighting Aisle: How Sourcing from a Lighting Showroom is Better for Your Business

While the pressure and prices in the housing market continue to rise due to supply chain shortages and increased demand, all businesses are looking for ways to get the best value for their dollar. This is especially true for contractors and builders, who are working harder than ever. 

If you’re still relying on big-box stores to light your projects, you’re probably missing out on a lot. Lighting showrooms offer better service, quality, expertise, and selection that big-box stores just can’t shine a light to. 

We know your time is valuable, but we can guarantee it’s worth your time to look into what showrooms have to offer before you go out shopping for your next project.

1. Fair Prices 

We know the bottom dollar is important on your projects, and lighting is often one of the last steps on the list when the budget is getting thin. 

It’s a common misconception that lighting showrooms charge more for their fixtures than you’d pay at a chain retail store – but it’s just not true. In fact, some big-box stores are notorious for marking up fixtures and then offering occasional “deals” that aren’t really deals at all. 

You cat trust that the prices you see at a lighting showroom are transparent and fair. And if you pay attention, you’ll notice that the prices at a showroom are comparable across the board for similar products you’d find anywhere else. 

If the prices aren’t that different – then you might as well be taking advantage of all of the extra benefits that come with shopping at a lighting showroom. Such as:

2. Better Value

Showroom owners are a lot pickier than online retailers and megastores about what they sell. Those comparable fixtures you’re price checking? They’ll often be higher quality versions – which means you are less likely to have your clients calling you in 2 months with a complaint. 

In addition to the overall higher quality, showrooms also give you more than your money’s worth in other ways not directly tied to your costs – like better warrantees and extended customer support.

3. Huge Selection

Lighting showrooms specialize in just one thing – quality lighting. With the entire store dedicated to showcasing fixtures and bulbs, you’ll be able to see how the fixtures look up close and check installation guidelines before making any purchases. 

If you or your client is looking for something specific, showrooms also have access to a massive selection of fixtures through the manufacturer catalogs. If it’s not on the floor, we’ll be able to find it and get it ordered for you. You’ll be able to find exactly what you need without having to shop around. 

4. Expert Advice and Speciality Knowledge

When you walk into a national chain hardware store and need help, you already know that the employees there usually know a little bit about plumbing, electrical, appliances, and lighting, but they likely won’t have deep knowledge about any of them.

Lighting showroom staff are experts in lighting. Their services center around helping contractors get the right products into their builds. The experts at our lighting showroom stay up to date on the industry and can give you expert advice you wouldn’t find anywhere else. You don’t need to spend hours researching and comparison shopping – we’re more than happy to share what we know to help you get exactly what you need.

5. Word of Mouth

Your reputation matters – and nothing is more valuable to a business owner than a glowing recommendation from a happy client. Sometimes lighting is an afterthought for your clients who are more focused on finishes and fixtures. But even a brand new space with high-quality craftsmanship will look underwhelming with poor lighting. 

Our lighting experts can help you make sure that your clients get quality fixtures that will highlight your hard work. This will result in two things: 1. Happy customers that want to refer you and 2. Jaw-dropped friends and family that want to ask for your number for their next project.

Another thing to consider – homeowners often come windowshopping at lighting showrooms to pick out what they want “when they’re ready” to start a renovation. If your local lighting showroom knows who you are and sees you regularly, they can refer you to their customers to help them get started.  

6. Industry Relationships Matter 

Developing relationships in the industry is vital for all of us. You’re not receipt #238942, you’re a local business owner, part of our community, and a friend. 

When we know who you are and what you like, it makes it easy for us to help you get in, get out, and get what you need quickly so that you can spend your time on other parts of your project.

In addition, most showrooms allow contractors to set up an account – which often comes with perks such as discounted prices, bulk ordering options, and payment plans. 

If you’re still relying on big-box stores for your lighting needs, it’s probably time to consider your options and visit a lighting showroom to see what you’re missing. 

If you’re in our area, stop by Lit Living – we’d love to get to know you and see how we can help your business grow.