Out of the Dark - The History of Illumination (1954)

"Out of the Dark: The History of Illumination" traces the development of illumination techniques from the dawn of history until the present time. The film begins by proposing what the night must have been like before the discovery of fire. Once fire dispelled the darkness, the invention of the lamp soon followed. The lamps of primitive man stayed the same for thousands of years. Lighting by torches, candles, and baskets of burning pine chips carried over into the time when monks copied manuscripts by candlelight. In the 1700's, the houses of the rich were lighted through the use of chandeliers, candles, and tinderboxes. Less wealthy people would gather around a primary candle to work after dark. On streets, urchins would carry lanterns, torches, and candles for pay. As the industrial revolution occurred, factories needed better lighting and they began to burn oil for light. The use of gas to illuminate took two primary forms; gas sent through a pipe could be lit in an enclosed container, and liquid paraffin or kerosene was burned in lamps. Lighting changed little until 1858 when the experiments of Davy and Faraday allowed for the production of light through electric arc lighting. Soon after, Swan and Edison developed light bulbs with carbon filaments. These electric lights needed little maintenance and lighted rooms effectively. The final development in lighting occurred when people realized that they could light gases with electrical discharges, a principle used in fluorescent and neon lighting. This film reminds the audience that artificial lighting is a relatively recent development in human history.
Photographed by A. T. Hinsdale & Leo Rogers
Music by Charles Dakin
Directed by John Durst
Produced by Frank A. Hoare
Merton Park Studios for the British Electrical Development Association
Adapted by Encyclopaedia Britannica Films
ABOUT THE ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY (IES)
In 1906 the IES was founded with the purpose of bringing together those with lighting knowledge to develop standards, promote research, and develop educational materials to advance the art, science, and practice of lighting design and engineering. The strength of the IES is its diversified membership, including engineers, architects, designers, educators, students, contractors, distributors, utility personnel, manufacturers and scientists in 64 countries. The IES is a 501(c)(3) non-profit professional society writing the American National Standards (ANSI) for lighting. www.ies.org

[@steelneedles]

A lovely little film and very interesting. Love the quaint presentation of the early 50s.

[@josephshulman4330]

Indeed

[@EdmontonRails]

Great film, it's sad to see how much lighting design has moved backwards in the past decade with the mistake that is LED area lighting.

[@MtnGrandma]

Very informative and loved this history shared! 😊💗

[@erikdekker1]

This film is better than 99% of all the modern movies of today lol.

[@Evangelionism]

Lovely watch, and I learned quite a lot, put into perspective. Thanks!

[@southwestsearch]

When you think about isolated farmsteads showing lights, it can be a guiding beacon for wayward travellers. Or in the worse case, marauders.

[@BeastOrGod]

Dafuck are marauders doing in the darkness? I mean, why not at daylight?

[@southwestsearch]

@@BeastOrGod Need I say more? kzbin.info/www/bejne/mIjGcoaMZ9iYr5I That homestead was a beacon. What better time than to catch someone off guard?

[@catherinemorrison2255]

Thank you for the film. Informative and Interesting!

[@josephshulman4330]

These videos are great !!!!

[@gregpeterman1102]

No sound on right side.

[@jamesmcgrath1952]

I grew up for 16 years with oil lamps. Nice to hear Ronald Reagan narrate.😊

[@brianfuller7691]

Actually a rather apt title. Even in the early 1880s, Interior illumination was still rather dark. Candles were only two types before paraffin, beeswax and tallow.. Beeswax, more expensive, didn't smell bad and was less smokey...

[@noHOPEof]

-- many years ago during late October on History CH a thorough "Afraid of Darkness" piece was presented.( hope IT can eventually be located ) Present distracted minds truly do not consider their numerous varied *dangers* -- did the population abodes have 'windows' 0R merely mid - level spaces in a wall , once the sunset faded ~ it seemed to be a free for all for theives( (0R worse) ) , soOo many sounds( as the mind inevitably recalls the 'horrific' handed down stories of vibrant imagery that gave oodles of creeps . . . some senses hoping that 0NLY an animal produced the *noise* ) *dangers* existed(seemingly everywhere . . . until the "s a f e t y" that only a rising sun could impart. ~ sUUch a fine - documentary - !c heer s

[@MarySchipke-dg7dg]

Now there is so much light pollution that darkness is impossible.

[@diversegardener392]

Lewis Latemer invented the carbon filament, why isn't he mentioned. Yes he was a Blackman.