Pifco carbon arc lamp with original box and carbon rods. Made by Pifco, England, 1945 - 1955. Used for UV light treatments at home, made of carbon and metal

In the 1920s, having a lamp like this at home was advertised as a way to artificially capture the benefits of sunlight. However, the lamp was expensive, and you also needed a reliable electricity source at home.

Light therapy was developed in the late 1800s and early 1900s as a popular treatment for a wide range of conditions. Carried out with both natural sunlight and artificial light, UV rays were thought to be most beneficial. Their use was found to disinfect wounds and boost vitamin D production, essential for bone growth. Niels Ryberg Finsen popularised light therapy and won the Nobel prize in 1903 for his work using it to treat the lesions left by smallpox and tuberculosis of the skin. However, its uses and benefits were widely discussed and sometimes disputed in the medical and popular press.