Vintage Lighting Hello. I am looking for information on some stage lights any information would be greatly apprecia

Dschutt, What are the dimensions of the reflector? (Diameter & depth?) What are the dimensions of the two openings? Is it made of pieces of reflective metal riveted to a framework of some kind, or is it reflective (silvered?) glass segments riveted to the frame? Looks like flat pieces of glass in the pic.

RE: the arc mechanism: I'd bet that the arc mechanism was intended to rest at the angle shown in the instrument, (this would face more of the positive crater toward the lens.) The bottom plate (just above the knob) would be fastened to the bottom of the instrument housing and with the knob protruding below the instrument housing, probably through a slot to allow back & forth movement.. The whole arc mechanism appears to be mounted on 'rails' to allow it to be moved toward & away from the optical system. Can you rotate the knob or is it frozen? If it rotates, does it move both carbons toward and away from each other? (JHand-fed arc.) (One LH & one RH thread on the drive shaft, possibly different pitches to feed the positive/upper carbon faster than the negative?) There appears to be something (insulators?) where the arms holding the carbons are attached to the 'drive screw.'

More photos of both, with a scale included, please!!

All in all, very interesting. Ship: right up your alley! :)
 
Dschutt, To new photos arrived while I was typing, thanks. I see you do have two screw threads on the 'carbon feed rod', LH & RH, and they look like different pitches. And a screw to move the whole arc back & forth. Now all we need is the instrument housing, some wire, some new carbons and we're back in business. :)
 
Wow! that's in interesting location for a rod/knob. Seeing completely new dimensions to your fixture to study. So seemingly the busted part is the wide flood or spot version of your scoop or Ovalitte in mechanism arc source. This being one dimensional probably didn't matter as much for a wash light mechanism your's indicates. Never seen something like this - what I have seen are so much more complex in engineering three dimensionally of the source of the arc. So given a Olivalite don't matter accuracy as much, it would clearly seem you have a Ovalittle source of carbon arc mechanism. Given your reflector is also clearly set up for something - details in photo's in assuming it won't work properly with the reflector. Might perhaps work. Was it something factory designed? or something a parent did? Possuible but more likely the ladder still given the size of the weld blobs and reflector in general details.

We have parts, the 30 degree angle is a hard one to figure out verses the reflector. The reflector I don't think factory made - but at some point what one considers factory made is also hard to define for what was bought early. What's the rest of the parts you have?

If of help in this I'll take some photos of some Olivalittes and a PC fixture which I know are 1911 or earlier. They were lacking their carbon arc mechanisms given a conversion to incandescent. Given I have Ovalittes which are said to be first generation of incandescent... but moldings for carbon arc... Your mechanism inner parts might possibily get confirmed in your parts matching mine for outer shell. Or perhaps not given a different vender. In clenaing them, find a brand? I know mine are Benjamin brand. I have two olivalitte shells which I associate with carbon arc, which your mechanism in theory should mount with if not mounting to your spot welded reflector in some way - the thirty degree mounting a problem but perhaps also with mine.
Very gray area.
 
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The ruler is on out side of adjustment knob so that rod includes knob approx 14 inches

All turn freely

Dschutt, To new photos arrived while I was typing, thanks. I see you do have two screw threads on the 'carbon feed rod', LH & RH, and they look like different pitches. And a screw to move the whole arc back & forth. Now all we need is the instrument housing, some wire, some new carbons and we're back in business. :)

Yes I would say different pitch’s on thread. I had not noticed that
 
Wow! that's clean how did you do this in expecting a longer than me post. Seeing some interesting stuff in photo, but more curious on what you did to retain patina and clean.
 
I have not cleaned. Not even dusted, nothing. If any dust is gone it’s becaue of me picking it up lol
Everything I have is has I found it
 
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Total diameter of reflector is 15 1/4 in. And laying face down about 20” tall
Slots. 3 1/2 x1 3/4
Ripple glass pcs. Center may be ceramic. They are held in place by
A cotter key type rivet Button like end on reflector side at corner of glass going through housing and bent apart on back side like a cotter key

Housing. Looks to be brass. Magnet won’t stick any where But kinda looks like it has a coat of goldish paint or stain. There are places where you can see brush marks.
No makers marks that I can find on outside
 
Very important and useful info given, thanks. Scratch test for if aluminum or other material on the reflector somewhere so as to investigate that. Can you investigate insidethe ceramic base without damage? Interesting with fastener note below.

Button head some form of rivets and not solder blobs? I take back all I said about some dad, and find a system you describe that is fascinating. And in being well read, some form of attachment I have not heard of so far. As with the carbon arc assembly above, this reflector is interesting.

Assuming not related to the initial fixture - subject for debate but I doubt.


With CB help, pull up page 22 of the Chicago Stage Lighting 1916 catalogue page 22. Not the same in what you have, but really similar in concepts and showing perhaps similar technology. Pay attention to the reflector description.
 
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I have found another curious piece.
Looks like it could be a heating element? The above pic is from the bottom side with the base plate removed. I will try to upload a pic of it standing up right with base plate beside it
 
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