Vintage Lighting Possibly the first Century "Leko" & E-Bay bidding up between friends?

[ship]

Vintage Theatre Stage Light AS IS - eBay (item 300571332911 end time Jul-02-11 17:02:27 PDT)

Found this Leko on E-Bay as with some other stuff

Meat of the issue... I know I have seen this fixture before in photo, but searched my library and only I think see the next generation Century #1590 but not this one.

What socket is it - this in some idiot put a FEL and G-9.5 socket into it at some point. Was it G-22 or P-28s? Medium preverses Mog. Bi-Pin at some point given a different size of stuff for Euro at times isn't a good description. Edison alone means a lot of things.

So what socket was this fixture origionally? The G-22 or the P-28s? Seemingly that's all that is needed for the fixture in otherwise in need of work condition but all there. Also what's the history of it - is it the first real "Leko" or what version and date?

(Also yet to crack it open - perhaps this weekend as carrot on a stick following other projects.)

 

[derekleffew]

See Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight-Ancient History - ControlBooth . I speculated that this may be an early Century Lekolight, but have no proof, and would expect it to be marked if it were Century.

 

[ship]

See Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight-Ancient History - ControlBooth . I speculated that this may be an early Century Lekolight, but have no proof, and would expect it to be marked if it were Century.

The Century 1590 I have doesn't have markings either but does have the distinctive knobs. So does this one. Thanks.

hmm, thanks for the pattent link and info. Would seem the Leko in my 1937 - 39 text books shows that one. This than assuming Century has to date to between say 1939 and 1947. A shame you don't remember seeing it's picture either - I know I remember it from somewhere & that could help date & verify it better. At least have an expected date range now though at least. I'll have to check the pattent further for what type of socket it used.

 

[Les]

I came across this fixture on eBay also. I was surprised by how it looked to be in really good condition, and was "watching" it for a while thinking I'd like to have it but when I saw it receiving bids, I knew that someone must want it for its historical value. Of course I did too, but honestly if I were to buy it, it'd just sit in a corner for who knows how long and I didn't want to prevent someone else from getting it who might have a better use for it. I'm glad to see that it's in good hands!

 

[STEVETERRY]

Vintage Theatre Stage Light AS IS - eBay (item 300571332911 end time Jul-02-11 17:02:27 PDT)

Found this Leko on E-Bay as with some other stuff

Meat of the issue... I know I have seen this fixture before in photo, but searched my library and only I think see the next generation Century #1590 but not this one.

What socket is it - this in some idiot put a FEL and G-9.5 socket into it at some point. Was it G-22 or P-28s? Medium preverses Mog. Bi-Pin at some point given a different size of stuff for Euro at times isn't a good description. Edison alone means a lot of things.

So what socket was this fixture origionally? The G-22 or the P-28s? Seemingly that's all that is needed for the fixture in otherwise in need of work condition but all there. Also what's the history of it - is it the first real "Leko" or what version and date?

(Also yet to crack it open - perhaps this weekend as carrot on a stick following other projects.)

I used a few of these in summer stock in 1971. They took a medium prefocus lamp. The star knob is the pointer that it's a Century leko--the only knob that fits the original "Century Wrench".

BTW, it was known as a "Square chimney Century leko".

ST

 

[gew8805]

Yes, a medium prefocus base.

Should take a 500w - 750w T-12 lamp, shouldn't it?

 

[ship]

Thanks all!!!

Carrot on a stick for me to get to this weekend amongst other work, home and other museum projects under works. Other more huge projects are so far discontinued for the weekend including cleaning out both Grahm's and helping clean out Clyde's condo as with negotiations with his theater that's also in the process of giving it back to the Church, and while there is this gear to buy or fix... one doesn't rush the Church. All are in a stall for even older gear for the weekend other than the I think six I now have here to work on that have been in process a while now including this light only waiting a week now. Been a long six months - for a certain project at home for instance, I said this weekend after a few weeks now, I would finally get to it. Wife said months...


That P-28s socket info is incrediably helpful. (Cannot immagine the idiot that would re-wire it as per the photo for say a FEL style lamp, than not stop and figure out where they went wrong? Photos are close enough in some bench focus concept should have been learned.) Such info will ever so much help me bring it back to what it was - this assuming they at least in "upgrade" saved the plentium and bench focus mechanism. TBA.

Took home the other fixture - the perhaps 3rd edition of a Century Leko and it did indeed say Century on it. Project for it is to install it's real lamp cap onto it (now found) as oppesed to the one I made out of the body of a American DJ pinspot with the rest fabricated out of photos or drawings 0 this was a very popular Leko in books. With the found lamp cap, it should be brought back again in complete as opposed to a few that are as best can do or imagined - but only a few of them.

Of the Century #1590 and the unknown other say Version II Leko, both look really similar otherwise than outher body shape so far. Second edition I am yet to open it up or really examine it much. If intersted I can take photos further on both or the main project. Both weigh a similar boat anchor ton for like a 6x9 in size and are about the same height. This plus have most of the vent holes in similar places and of similar sizes mostly. A few minor differences in size but not of location or amount. Plus the same knobs as per the Century wrench I believe from the "Lighting Encyclopedia." (Book with a differing history than some text books from the date and "Stage Lighting A-Z" as per a dictionary in form but very similar.) Thus also some questions of lighting history during the period given two encyclopedias or dictionaries, and a library of classic lighting books I have with differing dates given for stuff or contridictury info in some cases. Minor details in none showing this specific fixture.

I believe it is a Century and so far as I can tell the link between the #1590 and the origional. Also believe I have seen it before in a book or some form of photo or listing. Where? That could help to date it further beyond the above say between 1939 and 1947 the best my books show each other version. That plus WWII where limited fixture design was probably done. ?Perhaps between 1939 and 1942 for a date if not during the war developed?

 

[derekleffew]

I used a few of these in summer stock in 1971. They took a medium prefocus lamp. The star knob is the pointer that it's a Century leko--the only knob that fits the original "Century Wrench".

BTW, it was known as a "Square chimney Century leko".

ST

Seemingly the same fixture appears in a 1964 Hub Electric Company catalog. Could it be a Century rebranded as Hub, or a knock-off?



Don't forget this thread http://www.controlbooth.com/forums/lighting-electrics/14245-what-fixture-ers.html .