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Bude-Light

August 26, 2023

A Bude-Light was a very bright oil lamp (later, in its modified form, a gas lamp) invented by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney, patented by him on 8 June 1839 and named after Bude, Cornwall, where he lived.

An artist's impression of one of the Bude Lights installed at Trafalgar Square, London, in 1845.

History Edit

Lighthouse experiments Edit

As first developed, the light worked by introducing pure oxygen into the centre of an Argand burner. It was claimed to be a cheap way of producing a bright light: the unburned carbon in the oil flame burned incredibly brightly and an intense, white light was produced from the weak yellow flame of the oil lamp. In 1838, Gurney reported the results of his initial tests to Michael Faraday, who recommended the proposal to Trinity House for possible use in lighthouses. It was trialled on an experimental basis in Orford Low Lighthouse in 1839, where its flame was observed to be 2.5 times as powerful as a flame of the same size on a conventional oil lamp; its use in lighthouses was not pursued, however, due to high running costs.[1]

Houses of Parliament Edit

The chair of the parliamentary lighthouse committee, however, Joseph Hume, was involved in the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster at the time and saw a potential opportunity for their use there.[2] In May 1839, he presented his lamp to a select committee of the House of Commons; subsequently their use was trialled in the temporary Chamber of the House of Commons[3][4] (at the time the Chamber was unsatisfactorily lit by large numbers of 15-inch candles, earlier experiments with both Argand lamps and gas lighting having thus far failed).[2]

Gurney had claimed (and already demonstrated) that his Bude-Lamp would cost the same to manufacture as a similarly-sized Argand lamp, and yet would produce a light more than twice as powerful while burning a quarter as much oil. There were setbacks during the trials, however: it proved difficult to trim the wicks satisfactorily, without interrupting debates, and managing the flexible tubes which provided the oxygen feed further complicated this procedure. Moreover, obtaining pure oxygen (which Gurney had sought to source from Manganese being mined in Devon and Cornwall) proved to be less straightforward and much more expensive than first thought.[2]

He therefore began to modify his design, convinced that, by doing so, he would be able to create an 'Atmospheric' Bude-Lamp: by substituting air for oxygen with little detrimental effect. To eliminate the need for maintaining a wick, he explored using coal gas in place of oil. He purified the gas, and impregnated it with vapours of naphtha, turpentine and India rubber; this was then fed through a set of concentric burners designed 'to communicate by conduction and radiation sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the gas to a given point, so as to effect the separation of its charcoal immediately on its leaving the burner, and then […] to bring fresh atmospheric air to the proper points of the flame'.[5] The chemical changes brought about by this precision mechanical arrangement achieved 'an effulgence adequate to every purpose of internal and external illumination'.[6] Self-regulating Atmospheric Bude-Lamps (enclosed in airtight glass containers, with eduction tubes to remove the fumes and heat) were soon successfully installed in the temporary Commons chamber (and operated 'at a cost of only twelve shillings per night, whereas that of the candles previously used there amounted to six pounds eleven shillings per night');[6] and indeed their use was promptly extended to the parliamentary libraries, lobbies and one of the committee rooms.[2] Gurney went on to market the lamps for use in churches, public buildings, private residences and shops.

Despite his pioneering work in Parliament, however, responsibility for lighting the rebuilt Palace of Westminster was instead divided (for an experimental period) between arch-rivals Sir Charles Barry and Dr David Reid; both their systems proved unsatisfactory, however, and in 1853 Gurney's system was installed. It effectiveness was proved, to the satisfaction of both the Lords and the Commons, and the following year Gurney was placed in sole charge, not only of the lighting but also of heating and ventilating the entire building.[2] His Bude-Light system stayed in use in the Houses of Parliament for over 50 years.

 
Bude Light in the south-east corner of Trafalgar Square, now lit by electricity. The lamp's granite column has been converted into a police post, sometimes described as "London's smallest police station".

Trafalgar Square Edit

Four Bude Lights, with octagonal glass lanterns, were installed in Trafalgar Square in London in around 1845. They were at some point converted to electricity, and are still in use. Two, across from the National Gallery, are on tall cast bronze columns, and two, in the south-west and south-east corners of the square, on short cast bronze columns on top of wider granite columns.[a] They were made by Messrs. Stevens and Son, of the Darlington Works, Southwark, to designs by Charles Barry.[7]

 
Bude Light 2000

Commemoration Edit

In the small seaside resort town of Bude a commemorative installation, also referred to as the Bude Light, was erected to mark the millennium and remember Sir Goldsworthy Gurney. Designed by Carole Vincent and Anthony Fanshawe, it is lit internally with fibre-optics and has a small seating area positioned around the light.

Notes Edit

 
Wikisource has original text related to this article:
On the Atmospheric Bude-Light
  1. ^

References Edit

  1. ^ Douglass, James Nicholas (13 June 1879). "Report from the Select Committee on Lighting by Electricity". Reports from Committees (House of Commons). 11: 54–61.
  2. ^ a b c d e Porter, Dale H. (1998). The Life and Times of Sir Goldsworthy Gurney: Gentleman Scientist and Inventor. London: Associated University Presses.
  3. ^ "...the Chancellor of the Exchequer had preferred so far sanctioning the experiment as to allow him 100l. to make the experiment.", 18 April 1839, Hansard
  4. ^ "The Civil Engineer and Architect's Journal, Volume 2 - 1839". page 223
  5. ^ Bethell, John (1843–1844). "On The Atmospheric Bude-Light" . Transactions of the Society, Instituted at London, for the Encouragement of Arts, Manufactures, and Commerce. 54: 198–200 – via Wikisource.
  6. ^ a b Ure, Andrew (December 1842). "Report on the Bude Light". Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania: 410–413.
  7. ^ "The Bude Lights, Trafalgar-Square". The Illustrated London News. Vol. 6. 3 May 1845. p. 284.

August 26, 2023
bude, light, very, bright, lamp, later, modified, form, lamp, invented, goldsworthy, gurney, patented, june, 1839, named, after, bude, cornwall, where, lived, artist, impression, bude, lights, installed, trafalgar, square, london, 1845, contents, history, ligh. A Bude Light was a very bright oil lamp later in its modified form a gas lamp invented by Sir Goldsworthy Gurney patented by him on 8 June 1839 and named after Bude Cornwall where he lived An artist s impression of one of the Bude Lights installed at Trafalgar Square London in 1845 Contents 1 History 1 1 Lighthouse experiments 1 2 Houses of Parliament 1 3 Trafalgar Square 2 Commemoration 3 Notes 4 ReferencesHistory EditLighthouse experiments Edit As first developed the light worked by introducing pure oxygen into the centre of an Argand burner It was claimed to be a cheap way of producing a bright light the unburned carbon in the oil flame burned incredibly brightly and an intense white light was produced from the weak yellow flame of the oil lamp In 1838 Gurney reported the results of his initial tests to Michael Faraday who recommended the proposal to Trinity House for possible use in lighthouses It was trialled on an experimental basis in Orford Low Lighthouse in 1839 where its flame was observed to be 2 5 times as powerful as a flame of the same size on a conventional oil lamp its use in lighthouses was not pursued however due to high running costs 1 Houses of Parliament Edit The chair of the parliamentary lighthouse committee however Joseph Hume was involved in the reconstruction of the Palace of Westminster at the time and saw a potential opportunity for their use there 2 In May 1839 he presented his lamp to a select committee of the House of Commons subsequently their use was trialled in the temporary Chamber of the House of Commons 3 4 at the time the Chamber was unsatisfactorily lit by large numbers of 15 inch candles earlier experiments with both Argand lamps and gas lighting having thus far failed 2 Gurney had claimed and already demonstrated that his Bude Lamp would cost the same to manufacture as a similarly sized Argand lamp and yet would produce a light more than twice as powerful while burning a quarter as much oil There were setbacks during the trials however it proved difficult to trim the wicks satisfactorily without interrupting debates and managing the flexible tubes which provided the oxygen feed further complicated this procedure Moreover obtaining pure oxygen which Gurney had sought to source from Manganese being mined in Devon and Cornwall proved to be less straightforward and much more expensive than first thought 2 He therefore began to modify his design convinced that by doing so he would be able to create an Atmospheric Bude Lamp by substituting air for oxygen with little detrimental effect To eliminate the need for maintaining a wick he explored using coal gas in place of oil He purified the gas and impregnated it with vapours of naphtha turpentine and India rubber this was then fed through a set of concentric burners designed to communicate by conduction and radiation sufficient heat to raise the temperature of the gas to a given point so as to effect the separation of its charcoal immediately on its leaving the burner and then to bring fresh atmospheric air to the proper points of the flame 5 The chemical changes brought about by this precision mechanical arrangement achieved an effulgence adequate to every purpose of internal and external illumination 6 Self regulating Atmospheric Bude Lamps enclosed in airtight glass containers with eduction tubes to remove the fumes and heat were soon successfully installed in the temporary Commons chamber and operated at a cost of only twelve shillings per night whereas that of the candles previously used there amounted to six pounds eleven shillings per night 6 and indeed their use was promptly extended to the parliamentary libraries lobbies and one of the committee rooms 2 Gurney went on to market the lamps for use in churches public buildings private residences and shops Despite his pioneering work in Parliament however responsibility for lighting the rebuilt Palace of Westminster was instead divided for an experimental period between arch rivals Sir Charles Barry and Dr David Reid both their systems proved unsatisfactory however and in 1853 Gurney s system was installed It effectiveness was proved to the satisfaction of both the Lords and the Commons and the following year Gurney was placed in sole charge not only of the lighting but also of heating and ventilating the entire building 2 His Bude Light system stayed in use in the Houses of Parliament for over 50 years Bude Light in the south east corner of Trafalgar Square now lit by electricity The lamp s granite column has been converted into a police post sometimes described as London s smallest police station Trafalgar Square Edit Four Bude Lights with octagonal glass lanterns were installed in Trafalgar Square in London in around 1845 They were at some point converted to electricity and are still in use Two across from the National Gallery are on tall cast bronze columns and two in the south west and south east corners of the square on short cast bronze columns on top of wider granite columns a They were made by Messrs Stevens and Son of the Darlington Works Southwark to designs by Charles Barry 7 Bude Light 2000Commemoration EditIn the small seaside resort town of Bude a commemorative installation also referred to as the Bude Light was erected to mark the millennium and remember Sir Goldsworthy Gurney Designed by Carole Vincent and Anthony Fanshawe it is lit internally with fibre optics and has a small seating area positioned around the light Notes Edit Wikisource has original text related to this article On the Atmospheric Bude Light Map all coordinates using OpenStreetMapDownload coordinates as KML GPX all coordinates GPX primary coordinates GPX secondary coordinates Trafalgar Square north west 51 30 30 N 0 07 43 W 51 508275 N 0 128734 W 51 508275 0 128734 Trafalgar Square North west Trafalgar Square north east 51 30 30 N 0 07 40 W 51 508455 N 0 127639 W 51 508455 0 127639 Trafalgar Square North east Trafalgar Square south east 51 30 29 N 0 07 38 W 51 507933 N 0 127240 W 51 507933 0 127240 Trafalgar Square South east Trafalgar Square south west 51 30 28 N 0 07 43 W 51 507707 N 0 128655 W 51 507707 0 128655 Trafalgar Square South west References Edit Douglass James Nicholas 13 June 1879 Report from the Select Committee on Lighting by Electricity Reports from Committees House of Commons 11 54 61 a b c d e Porter Dale H 1998 The Life and Times of Sir Goldsworthy Gurney Gentleman Scientist and Inventor London Associated University Presses the Chancellor of the Exchequer had preferred so far sanctioning the experiment as to allow him 100l to make the experiment 18 April 1839 Hansard The Civil Engineer and Architect s Journal Volume 2 1839 page 223 Bethell John 1843 1844 On The Atmospheric Bude Light Transactions of the Society Instituted at London for the Encouragement of Arts Manufactures and Commerce 54 198 200 via Wikisource a b Ure Andrew December 1842 Report on the Bude Light Journal of the Franklin Institute of the State of Pennsylvania 410 413 The Bude Lights Trafalgar Square The Illustrated London News Vol 6 3 May 1845 p 284 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bude Light amp oldid 1145202885, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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