From Pelita to electric lamp: An evolutionary study of lighting technology in Kuala Lumpur, 1880s‒1940
Abstract
This article aims to examine the transformation of lighting systems in Kuala Lumpur, a major town in Selangor, Malaya from the late 19th century to the early 20th century. This study analyses how the process of illuminating the home at night shifted from a laborious hand-on task to a significantly more convenient and efficient system as a result the development of science and technology-based infrastructure particularly the provision of electricity. In additional, this article explores how exactly lighting technology has been introduced and integrated into homes in Kuala Lumpur. To investigate these questions, the study applied qualitative and historical research methods. Most of the information and statistics used in this article were collected from primary sources, including archives and official documents of the Electrical Department and the Selangor Secretariat Files published in the late 19th century to the first half of the 20th century. The study demonstrated that the provision of electricity as a domestic energy source by the Electrical Department played a significant role in advancing lighting technology in homes. The need to illuminate homes at night which was traditionally met through the use of the pelita, a container filled with kerosene that produces light through a lit wick has shifted to the use of electric lighting which provides illumination with just the flick of a switch. The development of lighting technology meant that the process of illuminating homes was no longer managed entirely by homeowners but also became the responsibility of the Electrical Department. Starting with the generation and distribution of electricity to consumers, the Electrical Department was subsequently responsible for managing household wiring systems and ensuring that the installation of electric lighting was properly carried out before it was used by consumer. Therefore, the evolution of lighting technology in Kuala Lumpur from oil lamp to modern electric lamp not only widened the nocturnal living spaces within homes but also afforded users with an enhanced sense of safety and comfort.
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References
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