Budden, Beard & Co. Electric Shop - Calgary, AB, Canada - 1916
N 51° 02.731 W 114° 03.911
11U E 705714 N 5658985
In 1916, Budden, Beard’s “Electric Shop” debuted at the newly-renovated Alberta Corner (formerly the Alberta Hotel), specializing in electrical goods for the home. In 2024, the same building is home to a restaurant, wine store, and other retail.
Waymark Code: WM19RKE
Location: Alberta, Canada
Date Posted: 04/05/2024
Views: 7
In 1916, Budden, Beard & Co. debuted their “Electric Shop” at the newly-remodeled Alberta Corner (formerly the Alberta Hotel). Albertans voted in Prohibition on July 1, 1915, to come into effect on July 1, 1916. The Alberta Hotel’s ownership felt the impact on their business would be too great and decided to close the hotel. The building underwent extensive renovations to convert the dining room, billiards room, and other main floor spaces into retail bays, while the two upper storeys became offices.
The Electric Shop, which took part in the grand opening of the rechristened "Alberta Corner", specialized in electrical supplies and electrical goods for the home. The General Electric "Mazda" light bulb featured in their debut ad were tungsten filament light bulbs. They lasted longer and used less electricity than the older carbon filament light bulbs, but cost more money to buy. They were also one of the first standardized light bulbs on the market: General Electric licensed use of the "Mazda" trademark to other manufacturers who made light bulbs to General Electric’s standards.
The Electric Shop (aka Beard Electric, Beard Electric Shop) was at this location for 20 years, moving out in 1936. In 2024, the same building is home to a restaurant, wine store, and other retail shops.
REFERENCES and FURTHER READING
Wikipedia: Mazda (light bulb) (
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Science History Institute Museum and Library Digital Collections. "General Electric National Mazda Drawn Tungsten Filament Incandescent Light Bulb" [1917 Mazda bulb] (
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Bill's Antique Christmas Light Site: "The Mazda Lamp Story..." (
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