[1] Due to its longevity, the bulb has been noted by The Guinness Book of World Records,[2] Ripley's Believe It or Not!, and General Electric.

The bulb's longevity has been attributed to the high quality of its manufacture,[4] it being seldom turned off,[5][6] and its low wattage.

[7][8][9] The hand-blown, carbon-filament common light bulb was invented by Adolphe Chaillet, a French engineer who filed a patent for this socket technology.

It was originally hung in 1901 in a hose cart house on L Street,[12] then moved to a garage in downtown Livermore used by the fire and police departments.

Dunstan contacted the Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe It or Not, and General Electric, who all confirmed it as the longest-lasting bulb known in existence.

It was deprived of electricity for only 22 minutes during the transfer, which was made in a specially designed box and with full firetruck escort.

The low wattage (originally 60 watts, now approximately four) and high nitrogen atmosphere inside the bulb have also contributed to its longevity.

[17] According to the fire chief, every few months a news outlet will publish a story on the bulb, generating visitors and general interest, then it will drop back into obscurity for a while.

[18] The bulb has been visited and featured by many major news channels[18] in the United States, including NBC, ABC, Fox, CBS,[19] WB, CNN and NPR.

[1] The bulb has received letters acknowledging and celebrating its longevity from the city of Shelby, Ohio,[20] the Alameda County Board of Supervisors,[21] the California State Assembly,[22] the California State Senate,[23] Congresswoman Ellen Tauscher,[24] Senator Barbara Boxer,[25] and President George W.