The resistance of the glower decreases with increase in current, so a steadying resistance was put in series with it. This consisted of an iron wire mounted in a bulb filled with hydrogen gas and was called a “ballast.” Iron has the property of increasing in resistance with increase in current flowing through it, this increase being very marked between certain temperatures at which the ballast was operated. The lamp was put on the American market in 1900 for use on 220-volt alternating current circuits. The glower consumed 0.4 ampere. One, two, three, four and six glower lamps were made, consuming 88, 196, 274, 392 and 528 watts respectively. As most of the light is thrown downward, their light output was generally given in mean lower hemispherical candlepower. The multiple glower lamps were more efficient than the single glower, owing to the heat radiated from one glower to another. Their efficiencies, depending on the size, were from about 3½ to 5 lumens per watt, and their average candlepower throughout life was about 80 per cent of initial. The lamp disappeared from the market about 1912. [Illustration: DIAGRAM OF NERNST LAMP.] THE COOPER-HEWITT LAMP In 1860 Way discovered that if an electric circuit was opened between mercury contacts a brilliant greenish colored arc was produced. Mercury was an expensive metal and as the carbon arc seemed to give the most desirable results, nothing further was done for many years until Dr. Peter Cooper Hewitt, an American, began experimenting with it. He finally produced an arc in vacuum in a one-inch glass tube about 50 inches long for 110 volts direct current circuits, which was commercialized in 1901. The tube hangs at about 15 degrees from the horizontal. The lower end contains a small quantity of mercury. The terminals are at each end of the tube, and the arc was first started by tilting the tube by hand so that a thin stream of mercury bridged the two terminals. Current immediately vaporized the mercury, starting the arc. A resistance is put in series with the arc to maintain the current constant on direct current constant voltage circuits. Automatic starting devices were later developed, one of which consisted of an electro-magnet that tilted the lamp, and the other of an induction coil giving a high voltage which, in discharging, started the arc. [Illustration: COOPER-HEWITT MERCURY VAPOR ARC LAMP, 1901. This gives a very efficient light, practically devoid of red but of high actinic value, so useful in photography.] This lamp is particularly useful in photography on account of the high actinic value of its light. Its light is very diffused and is practically devoid of red rays, so that red objects appear black in its light. The lamp consumes 3½ amperes at 110 volts direct current (385 watts) having an efficiency of about 12½ lumens per watt.