Swan's carbon rod lamp and carbon filament lamp, while functional, were still relatively impractical owing to low resistance (needing very expensive thick copper wiring) and short running life. While searching for a better filament for his light bulb, Swan inadvertently made another advance. In 1881, he developed and patented a process for squeezing nitrocellulose through holes to form conducting fibres. His newly established company (which by merger eventually became the Edison and Swan United Company) used Swan's cellulose filaments in their bulbs. The textile industry has also used this process. The first ship to use Swan's invention was The City of Richmond, owned by the Inman Line. She was fitted with incandescent lamps in June 1881. The Royal Navy also introduced them to its ships soon after; with HMS Inflexible having the new lamps installed in the same year. An early employment in engineering was during the digging of the Severn Tunnel, where the contractor Thomas Walker installed "20-candlepower lamps" in the temporary pilot tunnels.
swan's carbon rod lamp and carbon filament lamp while functional were still relatively impractical owing to low resistance (needing very expensive thick copper wiring) and short running life while searching for a better filament for his light bulb swan inadvertently made another advance in 1881 he developed and patented a process for squeezing nitrocellulose through holes to form conducting fibres his newly established company (which by merger eventually became the edison and swan united company) used swan's cellulose filaments in their bulbs the textile industry has also used this process the first ship to use swan's invention was the city of richmond owned by the inman line she was fitted with incandescent lamps in june 1881 the royal navy also introduced them to its ships soon after; with hms inflexible having the new lamps installed in the same year an early employment in engineering was during the digging of the severn tunnel where the contractor thomas walker installed "20-candlepower lamps" in the temporary pilot tunnels