# Phoebus Cartel
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The phoebus cartel was an international cartel that controlled the manufacture and sale of incandescent light bulbs in much of Europe and North America between 1925 and 1939. The cartel took over market territories and lowered the useful life of such bulbs, which is commonly cited as an example of planned obsolescence.
Corporations based in Europe and the United States, including Tungsram, Osram, General Electric, Associated Electrical Industries, and Philips, incorporated the cartel on 15 January 1925 in Geneva, as Phœbus S.A. Compagnie Industrielle pour le Développement de l'Éclairage (French for "Phoebus plc Industrial Company for the Development of Lighting").
Made to Break: Planned Obsolescence
In the winter of 1924, the Phoebus Cartel concluded that the best way to sell more light bulbs was to make ones that burned out faster. A century later, we're left to wonder, are our products intentionally made to self-destruct? Or is this "planned obsolescence" a myth because consumers naturally w…
Ammo Vending Machines, Samsung's Smart Ring, Redbox Shutdown, and the Lightbulb Conspiracy
We're experimenting and would love to hear from you!
In this episode of Discover Daily, we explore groundbreaking technological advancements and industry transformations. From AI-powered ammunition vending machines in southern U.S. grocery stores to Samsung's revolutionary Galaxy Ring wearable, we …
1. The Phoebus Cartel (Introduction to the Circular Economy)
Your hosts Michael and Lucie will introduce you to the concepts underlying the Circular Economy. We will focus on one of the earliest examples of planned obsolescence, the Phoebus Cartel, linking it to modern system change and business redesign.
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Listener Mail: Planned Obsolescence, the Cow Urine Surplus and Ghosts
A caller asks for more information about the infamous Phoebus cartel. Road Dog asks about what people are supposed to do with all that urine collected from potty-trained cows. Mario, Schneider and Kevin write in with their own strange, disturbing stories. All this and more in this week's Listener M…
S6E21 - The Phoebus Cartel
Aj shits on Apple while Dee forgets what artificial scarcity is and rambles about graphics cards.
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Evil Corporations
In this episode, we explore the idea of “evil corporations,” prompted by a legal case in which a woman successfully sued social media companies for making their platforms addictive. We examine whether corporations deliberately design harmful products, concluding that in many cases they do, and ques…
AMS-Osram: Illuminating Innovation—How a Sensor Pioneer and Lighting Legend Shape the Digital, Intelligent Future
AMS-Osram is the result of a landmark merger between Austria’s AMS, a specialist in high-performance sensors and analog semiconductors, and Germany’s Osram, a century-old leader in lighting technology. Both companies had distinct legacies: AMS excelled at translating subtle real-world signals (such…
Why the 124-Year-Old Centennial Light Bulb Still Burns: The Untold Story of Shelby Electric, Adolphe Chaillet, and Planned Obsolescence
Explore the astonishing story of the Centennial Light Bulb, the world’s longest-lasting light bulb that has shone continuously for over 120 years in Livermore, California. In this episode of Podcast, uncover the secret history behind Shelby Electric Company, its brilliant inventor Adolphe Chaillet,…
10 Forgotten Inventions That Were Erased From History — The Shocking Reasons Behind Their Disappearance
Explore the fascinating world of forgotten innovation in this episode, "10 Inventions That Were Erased From History — And Why They Disappeared." Discover how groundbreaking technologies like Maurice Ward's Starlite fireproof material, the GM EV1 electric car, Tesla’s wireless energy transmission to…
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