Searching for "Light"

Berlin Electric Company.

Located in East Berlin, its position wasn't prominent, situated in a transitional zone between the bustling city center and the outskirts. A gray-white building served as the office for Berlin Electric Company.

After the castle's completion ceremony, Ernst returned to Berlin because the first outcome from Berlin Electric Company had arrived.

At Ernst's reminder, Berlin Electric Company had been focused on one thing: experimenting with filament materials for electric lamps.

Ernst recalled Edison's experience in improving electric lamps, where he had tested numerous materials, eventually choosing carbonized cotton fiber, and later switching to bamboo fiber. This provided some convenience for the staff.

Ernst entered the company and, after inquiring with an employee, learned that Carl von Linde was in the laboratory. Ernst approached the laboratory door and pushed it open.

The laboratory was a mess of wires, with various experimental equipment scattered haphazardly. Ernst carefully navigated through the clutter and saw Carl von Linde seated in a chair, sketching blueprints.

Ernst dared not disturb Carl von Linde, as a genius's imagination was most precious. If he accidentally interrupted Carl von Linde's valuable train of thought, the loss would be immense.

Ernst quietly found a chair, sat down gently, and waited for Carl von Linde to finish his work.

In the quiet laboratory, the only sounds were the ticking of the clock and the rustling of a pencil on paper.

After an unknown amount of time, Ernst was about to doze off when the sound of papers being organized reached him. Carl von Linde stretched, yawned, and then noticed the extra person in the laboratory.

"Your Highness, why have you come? I apologize, I was so engrossed in my work that I didn't notice your arrival!"

Ernst stood up, stretching his limbs, and said, "Mr. Linde, why don't you have the cleaning staff tidy up? The laboratory is too messy. Won't this affect your research?"

Carl von Linde explained, "It's like this, I can only organize my thoughts better when I'm alone, so I generally don't allow others into my workspace. Moreover, these instruments and tools are part of the experiment. The company has too few people who understand this field, or they aren't professional enough. I worry they might mishandle the instruments and damage some of my experiments.

Of course, I would prefer to work in a tidy environment, but scientific research is like this. With sudden bursts of inspiration and experimental verification, instruments and wires accumulate. Eventually, I simply gave up on tidying the laboratory." Carl von Linde explained.

"So that's how it is!" Ernst suddenly understood. The world of geniuses was indeed extraordinary, while some people were simply lazy.

"Mr. Linde, if you need anything, you can tell me in advance. Of course, the main reason I'm here today is to check on the electric lamps!" Ernst said.

Upon hearing Ernst's words, Carl von Linde began to showcase his progress.

"Your Highness, please follow me!"

Thus, guided by Carl von Linde, they walked through the stairs and entered a laboratory on the first floor. Several staff members were refining something in a furnace, and Ernst guessed they were processing materials.

Carl von Linde went to a shelf and took down a box filled with oval glass spheres. Inside each sphere were oddly shaped filaments, all handmade.

"Morgens, come over and demonstrate!" Carl von Linde called over a staff member.

The employee demonstrated the working principle of the sphere in front of Ernst.

"Boss, this is the socket, and the bottom of this light bulb is the plug. We just plug this light bulb into the socket, and the current passes through the filament inside, emitting light..."

As he spoke, he plugged the bulb into the socket. The light bulb immediately lit up, its filament glowing red and emitting a dazzling pale yellow light.

After a moment, the light showed no abnormalities, and the staff member breathed a sigh of relief.

Ernst asked, "How long can this lamp stay lit?"

"About six hours!" the staff member replied.

Carl von Linde explained, "Your Highness, the situation is this: after you provided the correct idea, we did manage to create a product. However, some hardware is difficult to achieve with the current level of scientific development.

"Take this light bulb, for example. Its filament requires a completely vacuum environment to be used effectively. But current vacuum technology cannot achieve this. There are no instruments or patents on the market that can accomplish this, so we have to make do."

Ernst asked, "Are there any solutions?"

"That's what I was about to say. I am currently researching and improving the existing vacuum technology on the market. I've been working on it for the past few days, but without any substantial breakthroughs yet."

Ernst stroked his chin, thinking carefully. Although Carl von Linde had many achievements in the field of electrical applications, when it came to precision instruments, people like Lenoir spent all day researching internal combustion engines. Internal combustion engines required extreme levels of sealing and reliability, with no room for error, making them far more specialized in mechanical research.

He then proposed, "How about this, Mr. Linde? Vacuum technology requires very high standards for machinery. You also know that I have another company, Berlin Energy Power Company. Their researchers have been dealing with machinery for a long time, and they have very high demands for its precision and quality. We could ask them if they have any ideas about this!"

Carl von Linde agreed. After all, it was too difficult for one person to handle this matter, especially in an area where he wasn't particularly skilled.

So, Ernst and Carl von Linde took a carriage to the nearby headquarters of Berlin Energy Power Company. It was afternoon, and Lenoir and his colleagues had not yet left.

"Mr. Lenoir!"

Ernst called over Lenoir and the others.

"Your Highness, what brings you to the company today?"

"It's like this..."

Ernst explained Carl von Linde's situation to Lenoir and his team, and introduced the two company executives to each other.

"Is that so?" Lenoir listened, then fetched a piece of paper and began to draw. After a while, he asked, "Mr. Linde, could I borrow your blueprints to take a look?"

Fortunately, Ernst and Linde had brought Linde's research documents with them. They handed these over to Lenoir.

Time ticked by, and suddenly Lenoir had an epiphany.

"This is a very good idea, Mr. Linde. This method is feasible, but the direction needs to be adjusted. The breakthrough point now isn't in the structure, but in the research and development of materials. I happen to have some experience in this area."

Thus, the two leaders from different fields began a pleasant discussion. Benz and others also joined in. As the group engaged in heated debate, the blueprints were repeatedly revised and redrawn.

Before they knew it, the group had been talking until evening. The moon was already high in the sky. Ernst, a poor student, could only order a cup of coffee and wait for these experts to finish their discussion.

"...And that's how the last problem is solved, Mr. Linde!" Lenoir said excitedly.

"That's wonderful! This has resolved the biggest obstacle on the path to improving electric lamps. Thank you so much, Mr. Lenoir!" Linde also said excitedly.

Finally, Lenoir and Linde and the others concluded that the improved vacuum technology would require at least three months of experimentation to turn the principle into reality. The two parties reached a temporary cooperation agreement.

The patent for the new technology would be jointly applied for by all researchers, with ownership resting with Hechingen Bank. They would enjoy a 20% profit share in the future.