Conventional Fixtures Bench Focus Strand-Century Lights

[lieperjp]

First off, want to say thanks to previous posters for great info on 360Q and S4 bench focus tips.

However, in our auditorium, we have 15-20 of the Strand-Century Lekolights that need to be cleaned and bench focused. (Several need it desperately!) They are from 1971-1972, just in case methods changed at all in the years they were manufactured. Please share how to do this!!!

 

[derekleffew]

For S/C ERSs of that vintage, just follow the instructions for an Altman 360 radial (not Q), and lower your expectations. In this instance, the compact design of the EGG filament, as opposed to the 750T12/9 or DNT lamp, is a hindrance, not a help. There's a center locking screw, and three screws at 120°. Keep fiddling with them until the beam is flat; or until, more likely, you lose patience. If these units have step lenses, just throw in the towel right now. I hope these are your oldest units, and at the top of the retirement list. Have the asbestos-insulated tails been replaced?

 

[waynehoskins]

Pretty much you bench-focus them like any other radial Leko. The ones we had in college had springs on the bench focus screws instead of that center locking screw, and the tails on ours had been changed for cloth-covered Teflon. Ours were good, but that may simply be how ours were. We also had EGJs in them; I never bothered to check if they were KW-rated, but we had KWs in them since before I was around. Then again, we also regularly put KW lamps in our 360/Qs.

 

[lieperjp]

For S/C ERSs of that vintage, just follow the instructions for an Altman 360 radial (not Q), and lower your expectations. In this instance, the compact design of the EGG filament, as opposed to the 750T12/9 or DNT lamp, is a hindrance, not a help. There's a center locking screw, and three screws at 120°. Keep fiddling with them until the beam is flat; or until, more likely, you lose patience. If these units have step lenses, just throw in the towel right now. I hope these are your oldest units, and at the top of the retirement list. Have the asbestos-insulated tails been replaced?

They do not have asbestos tails on them... I don't remember what type of cords they are. They are second to the top of our list now (we finally replaced the last two of our Kliegel Bros. lights last year!!! Those had the asbestos cords.) Right now we are trying to replace our old Altman 9x16 or 9x22's (I think. They are HUGE!) which are in our gym - which is used for large choral concerts. We are replacing three every year, only two years to go. Then go the S/C's.