DRUMMOND, THOMAS. - THE INVENTION OF LIMELIGHT, THE "DRUMMOND LIGHT"

On the means of facilitating the observation of distant stations in geodætical operations. Read May 4, 1826.

(London, W.Nicol, 1826). 4to. No wrappers as extracted from "Philosophical Transactions" 1826 - Part III. Pp. 324-337 and 1 engraved plate. A faint dampstain to top of plate.

First appearance of Drummond's paper in which he described his (and Goldsworthy Gurney's) invention and coined the word 'limelight'. His apparatus, demonstrated on the plate, was originally used for surveying as the title of the paper shows. Drummond claimed the light to be 83 times brighter than any previous artificial light.

The Scottish engineer, Thomas Drummond (1797-1840), saw a demonstration of the effect by Michael Faraday and realized that the light would be useful for surveying. Drummond built a working version in 1826, and the device is sometimes called the Drummond Light after him. Limelight was first used in public in the Covent Garden Theatre in London in 1837 and enjoyed widespread use in theatres around the world in the 1860s and 1870s. Limelights were employed to highlight solo performers in the same manner as modern followspots (spotlights). Limelight was replaced by electric arc lighting in the late 19th century. (Wikipedia).

"John Hersehel describes the impression produced when the light was first exhibited in the Tower: "The common Argand burner and parabolic reflector of a British lighthouse were first exhibited, the room being darkened, and with considerable effect. Fresnel’s superb lamp was next disclosed, at whose superior effect the other seemed to dwindle, and showed in a manner quite subordinate. But when the gas began to play, the lime being brought now to its full ignition and the screen suddenly removed, a glare shone forth, overpowering, and as it were annihilating, both its predecessors, which appeared by its side, the one as a feeble gleam which it required attention to see, the other like a mere plate of heated metal. A shout of triumph and of admiration burst from all present."’ (DNB).

Parkinson "Breakthroughs", 1825 C

Order-nr.: 46535