The Pilsen lamp was developed by two Austrian engineers, Ludwig Piette and Franz Krizik, and was marketed in Britain by Henry Francis Joel. It had a complex regulating mechanism which used an iron core between two solenoids. The lamp was quite extensively used, and won a Gold Medal at the Paris Electrical Exhibition of 1881[1]
1882 The Pilsen Joel and General Electric Light Co was formed as a public company to acquire the patents and rights to the Pilsen arc lamp, the Joel semi-incandescent light and the Gatehouse incandescent light. H. F. Joel was the electrical engineer of the company[2]
1882 The Pilsen Electric Light could be seen in operation at High Holborn and Seven Sisters Road, London; estimates could be obtained from Pilsen-Joel and General Electric Light Co Ltd, Telegraph St, London EC[3].
1888 The company was "solvent if not prosperous"; an agreement was reached to sell it to one of the directors but this was challenged in court by other shareholders[4]
1889 Liquidators were appointed[5] for voluntary liquidation of the company.