The Lutron story began in the late 1950s in Joel Spira’s makeshift lab in New York City. A young physicist fascinated by the aesthetic manipulation of light, Spira set out to invent a solid-state device that would enable people to vary the intensity of the lights in their homes.

"Notebook A"

This contains more than 100 pages of drawings, documentation, testing results, and photographs, plus interview questions and answers from meetings with trusted advisers. The earliest entry is dated June of 1958. Of particular interest are pages 5, 12, 15, 19, and 20, for these show the actual physics used to create the Capri® dimmer.

"Notebook A" <br /><br />This contains more than 100 pages of drawings, documentation, testing results, and photographs, plus interview questions and answers from meetings with trusted advisers. The earliest entry is dated June of 1958. Of particular interest are pages 5, 12, 15, 19, and 20, for these show the actual physics used to create the Capri® dimmer.

In this photo, circa 1959, Joel Spira used a spare bedroom in his New York apartment as a testing facility for his dimming device invention.

Capri® dimmer and marketing materials -The original style of dimmer commercialized by Joel Spira in the early 1960s—the Capri.

The original 18” tall, lighted Capri display features a fully functional dimmer and suggested rooms of use.

The original Capri sales sheet conveys the benefits of dimming the lights in any room of the home.

These photos represent various stages of construction of the Coopersburg, Pennsylvania campus in 1968.

To this day, every Lutron dimmer is hand-tested to ensure a high level of quality. In these undated photos, circa 1969, line workers build and hand-test a variety of Lutron products.

Nova®

The first linear slide dimmer In 1971, Joel Spira introduced America to a new style of architectural dimmer—the Nova linear slide. The rugged Nova dimmer, with its distinct linear slide control, was designed for demanding applications of up to 2000 Watts.

Nova® <br /><br /> The first linear slide dimmer In 1971, Joel Spira introduced America to a new style of architectural dimmer—the Nova linear slide. The rugged Nova dimmer, with its distinct linear slide control, was designed for demanding applications of up to 2000 Watts.

RanaX®

The first infrared, remote control dimmer In 1989, Joel Spira made it simple to control lights from a bed or a favorite chair. The RanaX dimmer gave users the ability to wirelessly (via an infrared remote) turn their lights on, off, or to the perfect light level without leaving their chair or bed.

RanaX® <br /><br /> The first infrared, remote control dimmer In 1989, Joel Spira made it simple to control lights from a bed or a favorite chair. The RanaX dimmer gave users the ability to wirelessly (via an infrared remote) turn their lights on, off, or to the perfect light level without leaving their chair or bed.

NeTwork®

The first whole-home lighting control system The next logical step for Joel Spira was to expand the concept of dimming beyond single light control. The NeTwork system did just that—it “networked” all of a home’s dimmers and switches and let them be controlled both individually and from remote panels.

NeTwork® <br /><br /> The first whole-home lighting control system The next logical step for Joel Spira was to expand the concept of dimming beyond single light control. The NeTwork system did just that—it “networked” all of a home’s dimmers and switches and let them be controlled both individually and from remote panels.

Serena™

A totally new concept in window shading systems Serena is a unique motorized window shading system that contains a rolling set of up to four custom fabric shades plus a clear view for each window.

Serena™ <br /><br /> A totally new concept in window shading systems Serena is a unique motorized window shading system that contains a rolling set of up to four custom fabric shades plus a clear view for each window.

GRAFIK Eye®

The first customizable dimming system for different light sources. The GRAFIK Eye single-room lighting control was designed to control every light in a room, including conference rooms, home theaters, auditoriums and restaurants.

GRAFIK Eye® <br /><br /> The first customizable dimming system for different light sources. The GRAFIK Eye single-room lighting control was designed to control every light in a room, including conference rooms, home theaters, auditoriums and restaurants.

RadioRA®

The first two-way, radio frequency, whole-home lighting control system Building on the popularity of the aforementioned NeTwork ® system, and its successor, HomeWorks ®, the RadioRA whole-home lighting control system opened new doors for homeowners looking to retrofit a lighting control system into an existing home.

RadioRA® <br /><br /> The first two-way, radio frequency, whole-home lighting control system Building on the popularity of the aforementioned NeTwork ® system, and its successor, HomeWorks ®, the RadioRA whole-home lighting control system opened new doors for homeowners looking to retrofit a lighting control system into an existing home.

Vierti®

A single-touch lighting control Representing the very latest in innovation and cuttingedge design, the Vierti single-touch dimmer lets users set the perfect light level with a single touch or slide of the finger.

Vierti® <br /><br /> A single-touch lighting control Representing the very latest in innovation and cuttingedge design, the Vierti single-touch dimmer lets users set the perfect light level with a single touch or slide of the finger.

Skylark® eco-dim®

A dimmer that guarantees a minimum of 15% energy savings Skylark eco-dim has a maximum light output of 85% brightness instead of 100%, thus saving 15% energy and making the bulb last twice as long.

Skylark® eco-dim® <br /><br /> A dimmer that guarantees a minimum of 15% energy savings Skylark eco-dim has a maximum light output of 85% brightness instead of 100%, thus saving 15% energy and making the bulb last twice as long.

About

Lutron is a company deeply rooted in a mission to redefine how we interact with light. Our history begins in the late 1950s, when a young physicist, Joel Spira, embarked on a mission to revolutionize lighting control.

At the time, controlling lighting was complicated, expensive, and primarily used for theater stage lights. However, Spira saw the potential for a brighter future. In 1959, he emerged from his lab with a groundbreaking invention - a solid-state dimmer that could replace conventional light switches in homes.

Spira's dimmer was revolutionary because it used a thyristor, a type of transistor, instead of the traditional rheostat. This innovation allowed for more efficient light control, generating less heat and consuming less energy. By 1961, Lutron Electronics was officially incorporated.

The Spiras recognized that dimmers were not only elegant and practical; they also presented a significant opportunity for energy savings. As energy costs continued to rise, Lutron's dimming solutions offered a sustainable and efficient way to illuminate spaces, creating a brighter and more sustainable future.

Today, Lutron remains true to its founding principles, committed to providing technologically advanced lighting solutions that prioritize the needs of our customers. Our history is a testament to the belief that light can be harnessed to improve lives and reduce energy consumption, inspiring our ongoing pursuit of excellence.

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