The investnt in the Valencia shipyard was only 25 million pesetas, which could only be considered a small test for Carlo.
Next, Carlo mobilized a large amount of funds to invest in and support Spain’s relatively weak heavy industry sectors, such as tallurgy, chanical manufacturing, chemical industry, materials, and so on.
The five major sectors each received an average investnt exceeding 20 million pesetas, with a cumulative investnt of over 100 million pesetas, which could be considered a substantial investnt.
Even with an investnt exceeding 100 million pesetas, it was still impossible to rapidly promote the developnt of these industry sectors in a short ti. What could be achieved was only to effectively promote improvents in the industry sectors, and it would take a very long ti to obtain certain results.
At least with the royal family’s investnt exceeding 100 million pesetas in support, the private enterprises in these industry sectors could continue to sustain themselves and possess sufficient funds for technological improvents.
In addition to directly supporting enterprises in these industry sectors, the royal family’s other option was to vigorously cultivate excellent talent in these areas, providing a continuous supply of blood to these industry sectors.
To this end, Carlo personally ordered the education departnt to require the education departnt to assist certain universities in professional construction and reform.
Several universities have already added majors and subjects related to heavy industry sectors under the orders of the Ministry of Education, effectively supplenting Spain’s talent cultivation system in these fields.
Establishing a complete talent cultivation system is absolutely the most effective way to promote an industry sector. Talent is the most important thing for any industry sector, more important than any ready-made technology and equipnt.
After all, only with sufficient talent and a complete talent cultivation system can an industry sector’s technology achieve continuous progress.
If talent is in short supply, even if brief leading positions can be achieved, the future will still stagnate in technological advancent due to the loss of excellent talent.
In addition to these heavy industries, in the field of electricity, after many years, the electricity laboratory finally achieved certain results.
To be precise, it has been over five years since the electricity laboratory was established. In these five years, the electricity laboratory built a direct current generator and an alternating current generator, and under Carlo’s guidance, discovered the electric motor.
This was not all; Gram has been exploring broader usage scenarios for electricity and delving deeply into research on the light bulb.
Before the light bulb was born, the main lighting thods for people relied on flas and kerosene lamps, and kerosene was also one of the main uses of petroleum at present.
These two lighting thods had significant defects. Using flas for lighting goes without saying—not only did it waste various forms of fuel, but the firelight was not that bright either.
Although kerosene lamps only required kerosene as energy, their brightness was not high either, only allowing people to barely make out things.
It was precisely because of these reasons that the birth of the light bulb was promoted. Even the most primitive light bulb was in no way inferior to kerosene lamps in terms of brightness.
If it were not for limitations in lifespan and electricity developnt, the light bulb could absolutely quickly replace kerosene lamps in a short ti and beco the main lighting thod in people’s daily lives.
Before Gram heavily invested in light bulb research, the research on light bulbs was still in a broad exploration stage.
When posterity ntions light bulbs, the first person that cos to mind is Edison. But in fact, the earliest inventor of the light bulb was Arican scientist Henry. He used carbonized bamboo filant placed in a glass bottle and electrified it, achieving lighting for over 400 hours.
However, because Henry did not apply for a patent in ti, he ultimately did not beco as famous as Edison, the “king of inventions,” in the invention of the light bulb.
Edison was absolutely a capable scientist, but he was even more an extrely excellent capitalist. At least Edison’s reputation was not entirely accurate, with a considerable portion of inventions being ones where Edison purchased patents and then claid them as his own.
Carlo had so understanding of this history of light bulb developnt. Edison’s light bulb patent was purchased from a Canadian scientist, and the reason for the sale was that the Canadian scientist could no longer continue research on the light bulb.
To put it bluntly, scientific research requires a great deal of research and developnt funds. The birth of the light bulb ca from related scientists repeatedly experinting with materials, ultimately leading to the birth of the light bulb.
Carlo knew that before the tungsten filant light bulb was born, the light bulb with the longest lifespan and best effect was the carbon filant light bulb.
Therefore, Gram’s light bulb research started directly with the carbon filant light bulb, aiming to explore a comrcially viable light bulb that could be used for at least several hundred hours.
After five years of exploration and experintation, finally, Gram brought good news to Carlo: the electricity laboratory successfully manufactured carbon filant light bulbs with an average lifespan of up to 300 hours.
Upon hearing this news, Carlo imdiately happily went to the electricity laboratory to investigate what happened.
When Carlo arrived at the electricity laboratory, Gram had already prepared the relevant light bulb experints, waiting for Carlo’s personal viewing and testing.
“Your Majesty, what you are currently seeing is our entire experintal process for the carbon filant light bulb.
Our initial experintal subject was carbonized cotton thread, and this light bulb had a lifespan of up to 40 hours. However, such a lifespan obviously could not et comrcial needs. Building on this, we tested carbonized bamboo filant and cardboard, finally obtaining this comrcially viable light bulb with an average lifespan exceeding 300 hours.” Gram excitedly introduced the experintal process of the light bulb filant to Carlo, with excitent and admiration almost spilling from his eyes.
The electricity laboratory had indeed achieved good results over these five years, but whether it was the electric motor or the carbon filant light bulb, the related theories were all proposed by Carlo.
This made Gram greatly admire Carlo, even feeling that Carlo was a born scientist. If he had not beco the King of Spain, Carlo would absolutely beco one of the greatest scientists in human history, perhaps with achievents no less than becoming king.
Unfortunately, Carlo, who had already beco the King of Spain, clearly had no energy to invest in scientific research and developnt, which made Gram, who greatly admired Carlo, feel deep regret, believing that humanity might have missed a great scientist.
Hearing Gram’s introduction, Carlo smiled and nodded, asking his question: “Mr. Gram, can the lifespan of this current carbon filant light bulb be guaranteed to be over 300 hours?”
A lifespan of 300 hours was absolutely brief for light bulbs in posterity, but for light bulbs of this era, it was a huge improvent.
For ordinary families, electric lamps could not possibly stay on all night; the lighting ti for one evening was basically just the first few hours after dark.
Calculated at 3 to 4 hours of lighting per day, such a carbon filant light bulb would have a lifespan of about 75 to 100 days, or roughly three months.
Even for streetlights that illuminate all night, calculated at least 10 hours per day, a 300-hour lifespan could still last over ten days.
This era was not like posterity, where many roads had accompanying streetlights. Even if Spain had a demand for building streetlights, it would only be in so more prosperous streets and cities; ordinary roads were out of the question.
Considering all this, although a 300-hour lifespan was not long, it was absolutely sufficient for comrcial investnt. As long as the production cost of the light bulb was not high, it could ensure that such light bulbs could be put into comrcial use, and thereby promote the use of electricity—this was also the reason Carlo cared about the lifespan of these carbon filant light bulbs.
“We manufactured a total of over a hundred such carbon filant light bulbs, among which over 60 carbon filant light bulbs had lifespans exceeding 400 hours, nearly 20 carbon filant light bulbs had lifespans over 350 hours, and only fewer than 20 carbon filant light bulbs barely maintained a lifespan around 300 hours.
Your Majesty, based on these experintal results, we have confidence to ensure that the carbon filant light bulb’s lifespan remains above 300 hours, and it is even possible to raise it above 350 hours in a short ti.” When ntioning the actual lifespan of the carbon filant light bulb, Gram was full of excitent and quickly answered Carlo’s question.
Compared to the light bulb research and registered patents currently being conducted by various countries, Spain’s light bulb with a minimum lifespan of 300 hours was absolutely relatively leading.
To personally complete such an achievent, for Gram who loved scientific research, this was more wonderful, more exciting, and more thrilling than anything else.
Carlo nodded, the smile on his face growing even stronger.
It seed that the 300-hour lifespan reported by Gram for the light bulb was actually quite conservative.
Because most light bulbs had lifespans exceeding 400 hours, with only so inferior ones at 350 or 300 hours.
Using the exaggerated propaganda thods of certain capitalists, these carbon filant light bulbs could completely be promoted as having an average lifespan over 400 hours and a maximum lifespan approaching 500 hours—an exaggerated result.
Gram did not do this, which also proved his rigor with experintal data.
“Light a few light bulbs.” Carlo instructed.
Carlo was still quite curious about these most primitive electric lamps. Although Carlo had experienced those dim incandescent lamps, they were after all products improved over 100 years later.
As for what the most primitive incandescent lamps from over 100 years ago looked like and the brightness of electric lamps, the current Carlo did not know.
Hearing Carlo’s instruction, Gram signaled his assistant to turn on the switch.
With a click of the switch, the several light bulbs on the experintal bench instantly lit up. Because it was dayti, the brightness of the light bulbs was not high, even quite dim.
Carlo frowned; it seed that conducting electric lamp experints during the day was not a wise choice.
Fortunately, the electricity laboratory had a way to cope. All windows were completely covered with curtains, and light sources were closed, making the laboratory completely dark.
With the dark laboratory as backdrop, the originally dimly lit light bulbs instantly beca bright. Although not as stunning as posterity’s lights, for 1875 when electricity was just starting, such lighting was like a spark on the grassland, ready to rise with the wind at any mont and spread like wildfire.
Feeling the brightness of the light bulb, Carlo nodded, quite satisfied in his heart.
Afterward, the light bulbs were turned off, and several kerosene lamps lit up again.
Now the comparison was even more obvious. Although the previous light bulbs were not that bright, they were absolutely clearer than kerosene lamps.
In terms of brightness alone, this light bulb’s brightness was at least several tis that of kerosene lamps, and things were much clearer to see.
Working under the light bulb environnt would at least not strain the eyes as much as kerosene lamps. With such a comparison, Carlo beca even more satisfied with the current light bulbs.
“Your Majesty, what you see is the small light bulbs we manufactured, mainly for civilian lighting.
Considering the lighting needs of factories and large public areas, we also specially made larger light bulbs, with brightness much higher than these small civilian light bulbs.” Seeing Carlo’s satisfied expression, Gram was clearly more at ease and continued introducing other types of light bulbs to Carlo.
Hearing that there were even larger light bulbs, Carlo beca even more curious and smiled, saying: “Larger light bulbs? What is the lifespan of such light bulbs?”
While instructing people to install larger light bulbs for experintation, Gram answered Carlo’s question on the other hand: “Due to current technical limitations, the lifespan of this larger light bulb is far inferior to small light bulbs.
After over a hundred experints, we determined that this large carbon filant light bulb has a lifespan of only about 120 to 150 hours and cannot be used at high intensity.
But in terms of brightness, the large carbon filant light bulb’s brightness is over three tis that of the small carbon filant light bulb, capable of illuminating a much broader environnt.”
Perhaps because of multiple experints, the laboratory staff installed the large light bulb very quickly, and it was already installed during the conversation.
To highlight the brightness of the large light bulb, this test would only use one large light bulb, still compared to several small light bulbs and several kerosene lamps.
With the familiar click, this larger light bulb instantly lit up, emitting an even brighter glow.
Carlo surveyed the entire experintal area and found it indeed much brighter than the previous small light bulbs. If the previous small light bulbs could only illuminate a circle with a radius of three or four ters, then this large light bulb could illuminate a large circle with a radius of at least five or six ters, with the illuminated area almost doubled.
Although the illuminated area only doubled, the brightness also improved a lot. Indeed, for factories and so public areas, such large bulbs were a more suitable choice.
If small bulbs were used as streetlights, unless the streetlight height was only two ters, the lighting effect would be poor.
But if switched to this slightly larger bulb, the streetlight height could be raised above three ters, illuminating a larger road surface area and also preventing so light bulb theft incidents.
After all, if streetlights were only two ters high, many people could reach the light bulbs by tiptoeing. Even if the light bulb cost was not high, the selling price would definitely have so increase.
To prevent this phenonon, streetlights should be as high as possible. Not only could they illuminate a larger road surface area, but they would also look better and be easier to maintain.
Since it was already confird to be brighter than those small bulbs, there was no need for comparison with kerosene lamps next.
Kerosene lamps had the weakest brightness; it was just because they were portable and kerosene was cheap that they beca the main lighting thod in people’s daily lives.
But in reality, kerosene lamp lighting was not even brighter than lighting a fire. The reason Carlo disliked working at night was because he disliked the dim lighting of kerosene lamps; now with light bulbs, his working ti could be extended by one or two hours.
“What is the cost of such light bulbs? If mass-produced, can the production volu et Spain’s current needs?” After confirming that the current light bulbs were sufficient for comrcial use, Carlo asked the question he was more concerned about.
There were two relatively important factors for the comrcial use of light bulbs: one was the production volu of light bulbs, and the other was the selling price of light bulbs.
After all, this was sothing with a lifespan, and the lifespan had to be flexibly adjusted based on the light bulb’s lighting ti.
If the selling price was too high, most commoners probably could not afford it.
Of course, this also presupposed that Spain’s power grid network was roughly laid out. Currently, not to ntion universal village electrification, Spain could not even achieve city-wide electrification.
Moreover, the generators currently owned by the electricity laboratory could only power a small amount of experintal equipnt, far from being able to promote widespread electricity use on a large scale.
This also ant that before light bulbs could be fully comrcialized and promoted across Spain, one thing had to be done: massively build power plants to quickly enhance Spain’s power generation capacity.
“The cost of small bulbs is not expensive at present; the main components are only two types: glass shades and carbonized cardboard.
According to our estimates, if such small bulbs are mass-produced, the cost of light bulbs can also be effectively reduced.
The current laboratory-manufactured small bulbs cost about 12 pesetas, but if mass-produced, the cost should be reducible to below 5 pesetas.
As for whether the production volu can et Spain’s needs, I believe that before our power plants are massively built, Spain will not have much demand for light bulbs.
Your Majesty, regarding the promotion and use of electricity, I believe we need to establish a large demonstration area to showcase electricity’s superiority to all Spaniards, while serving as a model for our electricity promotion and use.” Gram answered Carlo’s questions one by one.
Carlo nodded, quite recognizing what Gram said.
Light bulbs required electricity, and before electricity was connected, even with light bulbs, they could not function.
Connecting electricity was very troubleso. Not only did power plants need to be built, but also connections between power plants and usage areas. This involved issues like voltage and power loss, not sothing that could be explained in a few words.
What was certain was that even though light bulbs had now been born, ordinary people wanting to enjoy them was impossible.
At most, so nobles and capitalists could use their financial strength to build small power stations, bringing electricity to their residential areas and driving other power equipnt including light bulbs.
It might even promote reforms in so factories. Electricity was also a very important energy source; electric motors could replace certain steam engines, becoming important power equipnt for factories.
Factories could also use electric lamps for lighting to improve efficiency. Previously, factories could hardly do two shifts, as nightti lighting was a big problem.
But if large numbers of light bulbs were used, factories could still be brightly lit at night, allowing another batch of workers to replace the dayti workers for production, enabling a two-shift production mode in factories and greatly improving production efficiency.
Doing so might exploit Spain’s workers, but this was also unavoidable. After all, various forms of exploitation existed in posterity, with many workers laboring over ten hours a day.
Talking about an eight-hour workday, weekends, or protecting workers’ rights in 1875 would be going against this era.
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