A Historical Departure: The Edison Mazda Light Bulb (c. 1910–1920)

While this featured item deviates from our typical vacuum tube focus, its historical significance to the evolution of electronics makes it a noteworthy discovery. During a recent acquisition of vintage tubes, I uncovered a remarkable artifact: an original Edison Light Bulb dating back to the early 20th century.

Provenance and Documentation

The bulb was accompanied by its original sales receipt, identifying the manufacturer as Edison Mazda. Most intriguingly, the receipt lists a price of $45.00. While the specific currency is not explicitly confirmed, if this figure was in USD, it would equate to approximately $1,177 in contemporary value—an extraordinary cost for a single bulb at that time. Further inspection reveals a historical paper insert preserved within the glass, detailing various patent numbers.

The Mazda Trademark

The Mazda brand was officially registered by General Electric (GE) in 1909, which places the production of this unit likely between 1910 and 1920. The brand has a fascinating global trajectory, beginning with its registration in the United States before seeing use in France and eventually becoming a prominent trademark in Japan.

Technical Condition and Testing

Remarkably, the bulb utilizes a base compatible with modern light sockets. To ensure the safety of the fragile filament, I performed a controlled power-on test using a Hickok 539C tube tester to gradually increase the voltage. Upon reaching 117V, the bulb illuminated with impressive brightness, confirming it remains in perfect working order after a century of storage.

This Edison Mazda Light Bulb is a stunning example of early electrical engineering. It serves as a bridge between the birth of commercial lighting and the vacuum tube technology that followed. If any readers have additional technical data or historical context regarding this specific model, your insights would be greatly appreciated.