During normal operation, a clock mechanism would slowly move the pencil-sized, copper-jacketed carbons closer together as they burned away. The two round knobs are for the X and Y positioning of the reflector.
For better or worse, your memory's fading. Strong never made Troupers with a douser, only "chopper" and iris. An after-market company called Dion Products (I think a retired employee of Strong-Toledo) offered a retrofit douser and top plate, but not many were sold. Who needs a mechanical dimmer when the operator can accomplish a more interesting fade by backing the carbons apart? (while at the same time pulling back on the bone AND closing the iris.)
For better or worse, your memory's fading. o
BillESC is correct. It's a carbon-arc Strong Trouper™ (not a Super Trouper™) produced by Strong Electric, Toledo, Ohio (later Omaha, NB) from 1948 until approximately 1980. It's also the first followspot I ever operated, in 1976.
The picture shows the carbon-feed crank in the lower right-hand corner used to set the gap between the carbons. During normal operation, a clock mechanism would slowly move the pencil-sized, copper-jacketed carbons closer together as they burned away. The two round knobs are for the X and Y positioning of the reflector.
More history can be found in Nick Mobsby's book, The Followspot Guide. Entertainment Technology Press, 2007.
Attached is a four page-sales brochure, from the early 1970s.
It's also the first followspot I ever operated, in 1976.
Thanks for that, I think.:neutral:Do you mean to tell us that you began operating a followspot while still in elementary school? Hmmmm? ...
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