When Brechin man Jim Macrae purchased a flat with his late wife Doris in 1977 little did he know that it came with a dazzling discovery inside.
The goldfish left in a murky tank in the living room was the first surprise.
But what Jim has found more brilliant is that he has never had to change his bathroom lightbulb in almost four decades.
The former textile worker contacted The Courier to see if we could shine a light on whether his bulb was a record holder.
“It’s just a normal bayonet lightbulb – it’s one of these bulbs that’s supposed to heat the bathroom a bit but doesn’t really,” said Jim, 79.
“Goodness knows how long it was in before I bought the flat in July 1977.
“But I’m absolutely certain I’ve never had to change the bulb, no question about it. I wondered if it could possibly be a record.”
Jim bought his two-bedroom flat in Ann Terrace for £6,100 when he was employed as a beamer — someone who made beams for the textile workers — at Smarts factory in Brechin.
He was later employed at another textile factory, William Don & Co in Forfar, after Smarts closed.
“We bought the flat from a man who was a local vet and I remember we couldn’t believe it that there was this tank full of black water in the living room and there was a goldfish inside,” Jim continued.
“We had to keep getting bigger and bigger tanks for it. It lasted for about seven years.
“My wife died 10 years ago in July. She would mention the lightbulb as well, saying ‘that bulb’s still lasting there’.
“We’ve mentioned it to friends and family over the years — they all think it’s amazing.
“It would be an easy enough bulb to replace if it ever did go. I just wondered if there’s any readers who have a light bulb which has lasted longer.
“It’s got to the stage now where every time I switch it on I’m waiting to hear it pop.
“I’m changing lightbulbs like there’s no tomorrow in the living room — the side lights go out all the time but the bathroom bulb just keeps on going.”
If any reader has a longer lasting bulb, please email rmclaren@thecourier.co.uk
World-beater
The world’s longest lasting lightbulb is the Centennial Light located at 4550 East Avenue, Livermore, California.
It is maintained by the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Department which claims that the bulb is at least 116 years old and it has been recognised as the world’s longest-lasting lightbulb by the Guinness Book of World Records.
It has only been turned off a handful of times which is seen as the key to its longevity as most of the wear and tear that leads to burnouts in incandescent lightbulbs is caused by turning them on and off, not by burning them.
The second longest-lasting lightbulb is in Fort Worth, Texas, which was installed at the Byers Opera House in September 1908. After the museum was demolished, the lightbulb moved to a museum.
Recognised as the longest bulb in Britain, is one that was installed in the bathroom of the Martin & Newby Electrical Shop in Ipswich. Thought to have been installed in the 1930s, it burned out in January 2001.
