Electric light on the Thames Embankment
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Electric light on the Thames Embankment
Illustration showing crowds admiring the electric lighting on the Thames Embankment, London in 1879. When the Victoria Embankment was opened in 1870 it was lit by cast iron gas lamps. After the Paris exhibition of 1878, where electric lighting was used to great effect, it was suggested that a similar system could be used for the Embankment. Despite attracting considerable crowds and interest, the lighting proved costly and unreliable necessitating a return to gas lighting after only six years
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Media ID 4363394
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10216424
1878 1879 Admiring Attracting Cast Considerable Costly Crowds Effect Electric Embankment Interest Iron Lamps Lighting Opened Proved Return Similar Suggested System Unreliable Years
EDITORS COMMENTS
This illustration captures the awe-inspiring moment when electric lighting was first showcased on London's Thames Embankment in 1879. The Victoria Embankment, opened in 1870, had initially been lit by cast iron gas lamps. However, after the impressive display of electric lighting at the Paris Exhibition in 1878, suggestions arose to adopt a similar system for the Embankment. The crowds gathered in December of that year, intrigued by the prospect of witnessing this new and innovative form of illumination. The electric lighting proved to be an immediate success, attracting considerable interest and excitement. Despite the initial success, the electric lighting system soon proved to be costly and unreliable. The high costs of maintaining the system and the frequent electrical failures necessitated a return to the traditional gas lighting after only six years. This setback did not dampen the spirit of innovation, as the experience gained from the experiment paved the way for future advancements in electric lighting technology. The image shows a large crowd admiring the electric lighting on the Thames Embankment, with the illuminated buildings and the reflections on the river creating a magical and otherworldly scene. The cast iron gas lamps, now overshadowed by the new technology, can be seen in the background, a reminder of the past and the progress that was being made towards a brighter and more electrified future.
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