The Anti-Light Bulb

In 1878 Thomas Alva Edison invented his prototype of the light bulb. Neat thing, we must admit. Nice to be able to make a dark room almost as bright as daytime

A little known follow up to this was the anti-light bulb, invented by Lars Johanson of Bennett, Wisconsin in 1903. Lars was a shift worker at the Bennett Mining Company, and normally worked the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift. Working night shift, Lars' eyes became extremely light sensitive over the years. Eventually he was able to read a book in the complete absence of light

However, Lars advanced eyesight became a curse to him. He became unable to sleep in the daytime. Light penetrated his eyelids as he attempted sleep in the daytime, and with his eyes closed he was able to see as well as you or I can see with our eyes open. Lars tried numerous ways to control the light reaching his eyes, but to no avail

Lars was a clever fellow, and eventually came up with the anti-light bulb. Not powered by anything, it was a glob of hypernoximity mixed with boric nitrate. Exact percentages of the mix is still unknown. This anti-light bulb was like a magnet to light. A bulb the size of a golfball would last approximately three weeks, and draw in all light from a 2000 cubic foot area

Lars Johanson sold anti-light bulbs to his fellow shift workers and became fairly rich. He was able to quit his mining job in Bennet, Wisconsin

Sales of Lars Johanson's anti-light bulb declined quite a bit after the invention of curtains by Wilhema Snokalost. However, the prudent fellow had taken care to see that his money would last him many years.