“I have an interest in things that are special,” says Hans Borner, owner of Righi Licht, Switzerland's only incandescent-lightbulb company. EU Law has cast a pall over the company Righi Licht but its spirit and skill shines on. Founded in 1906 the factory today makes over one million incandascent bulby each year in several varieties: from the once ubiquitous P64 Deluxe, with its soft warm glow, to complexx technical sognal lamps used by Swiss Federal Railways. Monocle, 2015
![burning bulbs](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151942-2.jpg?itok=1P-o1vy9)
Sealing the bulbs
![sealing lamps](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151572.jpg?itok=SSAhkuQ_)
Steady hands are required in all steps of production
![Bulbs are heated](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151710.jpg?itok=bDIhby1t)
Bulbs are gradually heated on a carousel
![removing hot bulbs](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151698.jpg?itok=bqbPsxGR)
The careful work of removing hot bulbs.
![machinery](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151883.jpg?itok=5Fd_c1TA)
Most of the machinery is original and no longer produced.
![heating the stem](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R152122.jpg?itok=vUyWhxWV)
Elaborate tungsten filaments
![woman checking stems](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151386.jpg?itok=KEXbXJDY)
A worker checking the hair-fine wire of coiled tungsten filament woven through several small hooks.
![tungsten stem](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R152132.jpg?itok=qKIo8QqX)
![stems tungsten](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151783.jpg?itok=PLk0E-Ny)
![pink box](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151674.jpg?itok=tNxIto78)
![coloured bulbs](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151402.jpg?itok=FYK6_F_y)
The factory maufactures clear and coloured bulbs
![Man holding a red lightbulb](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151530.jpg?itok=7hc_e5F3)
“It takes a lot of work, a lot of understanding and money to manufacture our lamps.” Hans Borner, owner of Righi Licht.
![bulb held with protection](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R152055.jpg?itok=mWTTzXQr)
“We are now an atelier, not a factory,”says Borner. “We do a few things very well.”
![holders for bulbs](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R152051.jpg?itok=ZQIZRmvf)
Hand-made holders for the bulbs, these need to be handled with great care during the manufacture process.
![Woman in blue blouse](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151800.jpg?itok=EzhKG2Tv)
Being a small atelier affords them a greater degree of flexibility; bespoke products can be ordered in runs as small as 10 units. “We can adapt,”says Christina Taiana-Borner, Borner's daughter who recently became the head of the four-strong board running the day-to-day business.
![filaments in cases](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151839.jpg?itok=Pk065sQT)
![checking the filaments](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R151836.jpg?itok=_RNRMD8F)
A worker deftly weaves a hair-fine wire of coiled tungsten filament through several small hooks. “To bring up this spiral correctly is an art form,” Borner says, smiling broadly.
![bulb on a shelf](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R152191.jpg?itok=uQXTzwOC)
Finished bulbs ready for inspection. The company refers to Swissness as: understanding the value of a quality product and delivering it on time, to specification and for an appropriate price.
![burning light bulb](/sites/default/files/styles/default_l/public/2016-10/_R152254.jpg?itok=xA5zOorz)
The warm glow of Righi Licht's incandescent bulbs in a world illuminated by the cold, harsh light of LEDs and the the disruptive blue glow of electronic devices.