Bartlett street lamp facts for kids

The Bartlett street lamp was a special type of street light invented by J. W. Bartlett. He patented and started making these lamps in 1872 in Manhattan, New York City. Bartlett claimed his lamps were much cheaper than others. He said they cost less than a quarter of what a rival lamp cost.

However, The New York Times newspaper disagreed. They reported that the New York City Parks Department actually paid more for each lamp, including its pole and frame. The city of Troy, New York started using these lamps in 1872. They used them to replace older street lights that were worn out.

What Made Them Good?

Bartlett said his street lamps saved money because they used strong iron frames. He also claimed they had thicker glass, so they didn't need as many repairs. He believed they wouldn't break easily if something bumped into them. He also said rain wouldn't affect them once they were lit.

But the Times newspaper argued against this. They said the lamps often cracked or broke. Still, people who lit the lamps, called Lamplighters, liked them. They found the Bartlett lamps easy to light and clean. Advertisements also said the lamps spread light very nicely.

An Inventor's New Ideas

J.W. Bartlett was always thinking of new ways to light up the city. By 1878, he introduced some amazing new devices. These inventions allowed street lights to be lit using electricity! He worked on these ideas from his office in New York City.

He created three main inventions that worked together. One was an electric gas lighter that could be controlled by hand. It could be added to any gas light. The second was an automatic gas valve and lighter. This was perfect for street lights and buildings. The third invention was an electric signal.

To test these new ideas, lamps around Madison Square were set up with automatic lighters. Someone could light or turn off all these lamps very quickly. They just had to press a button at Bartlett's office. He even connected the system to a clock. This meant the lights could turn off automatically at a certain time!