• LrdThndr@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      That’s so oversimplified that it borders on being a lie. Yes it happened, but the why of it wasn’t as simple as just “sell more lightbulbs”.

      I can’t link it right now, but go on YouTube and find the channel technology connections. He does a deep dive into the history of the light bulb and the phoebus cartel. TLDR: believe it or not, it was actually a good thing.

      • ShittyBeatlesFCPres@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Maybe the Technology Connections guy is an heir to the General Electric fortune. He certainly has a lot of access to old toasters. 🤔🧐

        /s

          • Lost_My_Mind@lemmy.world
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            5 months ago

            Does that explain why he did a 40 minute video on why microwaves from the 60s were better, but have since become shitified? To promote toasters instead?

            • LrdThndr@lemmy.world
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              5 months ago

              Actually, come to think of it, it’s not just toasters… it’s coffeemakers, microwaves, stove knobs, thermostats…

              HE’S SUPPORTED BY BIG BIMETALLIC STRIP!

      • mipadaitu@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        It was neutral at best, it was still a conspiracy to reduce choice in the market in a way that was beneficial to them. Yes, the excuse they used was that it prevented people from creating light bulbs that were of poor quality, and had an unpleasant color to them, but it also was profitable for them to do so.

        Here’s the video you mentioned: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zb7Bs98KmnY

        • Eheran@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          It would have been a race to the bottom. The same way it happens with other products today. Some number bigger = better marketing = selling more = others need to do the same or go bankrupt = everyone does it.

    • Today@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      That’s totally true. If you go to Edison’s house they have light bulbs that have been burning for a really long time. Every tour someone asks, “why don’t my light bulbs last that long?” The tour guide replies, “because then you’d only buy them once.”

      • LrdThndr@lemmy.world
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        5 months ago

        Also the bulbs that last forever are majorly undervolted. They last forever because they’re not run anywhere near their current capacity, and as a result, they emit way less light and their filament doesn’t degrade as fast.

        If you take any old off the shelf incandescent bulb and only run it at 50v, it’ll last decades.

      • Kachajal@lemmy.ml
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        4 months ago

        A big part of that is that those bulbs are never turned off. Cycling power is actually a large part of what degrades them.