The following account of a meeting of the Norwich Rotary Club appeared in the Norwich Bulletin on December 7th, 1922.
A practical demonstration of the proper means of industrial and commercial electric lighting was given by S. E. Greiner of The General Electric Co., after the regular noonday luncheon of the Norwich Rotary club at the Wauregan hotel on Wednesday. Many of the members of the Rotary club use electric light in their various lines of business and the demonstration was a revelation to many of them. In many industrial plants and mercantile houses very little attention is actually paid to the lighting system provided the workman or clerk can see his way about and do a fairly good day’s work. The demonstration brought out the fact that proper and scientific lighting increases production from 10 to 60 per cent, depending largely on the system now in use. Not only that but it keeps up the morale of the employee and is far safer than many of the old systems now in use. what applies to the factory also applies to ‘the store with the addition of the fact that artificial daylight saves time to the merchant and customer and tends toward a well satisfied trade.
The demonstration took place in a specially constructed booth ta which the various stages of lighting could be shown by the simple throwing on a switch until the most efficient method of lighting was reached. The lecture started with the haphazard method of lighting found frequently in large industrial plants and showed how with the installation of a few simple devices such as improved reflectors and various types of lamps the factory would be properly lighted and the utmost efficiency of the workmen assured. With the aid of the compact photometers known as foot-candle meters, the audience was able to determine the exact intensities and efficiency of the various stages of lighting. On various charts were worked out the problems of cost of installation and maintenance and the relative increase in efficiency. These charts showed that if by the installation of proper lighting methods, the workman in the factory was able to increase his production three minutes a day it would pay for the cost-of installation and maintenance.
In speaking of the lighting of store interiors Mr. Greiner showed how proper lighting effects could be used in displaying goods, making show windows attractive and many other effects that would tend to make a satisfied customer as well as advertise the business to the greatest extent. Various types of lamps with reflectors showed that under certain, conditions materials showed varying color effects. With the use of a certain type of lamp material containing several colors was shown exactly as it would appear in natural daylight, thus saving the customer and clerk the bother of taking goods to the daylight to get the true colors. He also showed how many attractive effects in window display could be produced by the simple installation of colored lights in different parts of the window. He also showed how employees forced to work under artificial light were saved much mental fatigue or the installation of proper lighting and how the morale of the working force was kept up.
The manner in which the advantages were explained, and the practical demonstrations left no doubt In the minds of ail present that more attention should be paid to lighting if the maximum of efficiency was to be secured. The demonstrations were repeated during the afternoon and evening.
At the business session of the club, President William O. Park presided and Russell Clapp acted as song leader. It was voted to have an attendance contest in the club during the first three months of the new year. The duo is to be divided into two teams with captain and several lieutenants to in the members Interested In the contest. At the end of the contest the losing team furnishes a dinner to the winning team, in case of a tie the context continuing for another three months.
Secretary Weymouth read a letter from District Governor D. A. Adams complimenting the local club for its increased attendance record. Charles A. Saxton. chairman of the entertainment committee announced that the meeting of Wednesday. Dec. 20th. would be in charge of the doctors and would be a health meeting.
During February one meeting will be set aside for the observance of the seventeenth anniversary of Rotary and this week would be Rotary Week. A vote of thanks was given Henry Vignot and Walter T. Murphy of New London for the entertainment provided – at the Thanksgiving dinner for the boys of the city.
The musical features of the meeting were the duets by George L. Ingalis and Bert Gager, and Joe Weymouth, and Bill Park, the latter couple being acclaimed the best singers. Henry LaFountaine sang Smilin’ Through in a pleasing voice There were several other selections by various groups of the members and guests.
Lucius Briggs, who has been active in the affairs of the club since Its inception, was given a beautiful briar pipe with the Rotary seal set into the bowl. The pipe was a gift of the club to Mr. Briggs as a recognition of his services. The meeting was then turned over to General Manager Charles W. Taggart of the gas and electric department who is responsible for the pleasing demonstration of proper lighting.
The featured image comes from a 1920’s General Electric Catalog. You can find the catalog itself at oldhouselights.com, where you can actually get many of the lights in that catalog.