Little helper and his lightbulb

[Theresa Wiegert]

Has the lightbulb always been a lightbulb? It certainly looks like that
nowadays, even though it's a bit pointy on the top, which at least my
ordinary lightbulbs aren't. 
But in the old days, if I am remembering correctly, little helpers head
looked more like a hmm. an electrical component you used before you got
the transistor. I have no idea what the name for that is in english (tube,
perhaps?)
(elektronrör in swedish, perhaps someone can help me?), i e not a lamp at
all, but some kind of semiconductor device (??) (I'm a physicist, not an
elictrician, so I don't know so much about these things) It looks like
lamp, but it's more cylindrical in the form, and has a pointy top. And
some stuff inside as well. Those things could be quite large, I think. 

Or is it just an ordinary lamp little helper uses? Even back then?

-- 
/Theresa