The
Altman 360Q derived from the model 360 with the Q designation indicating the "Quartz" lamp design. SB
And people say Ship should write a
book... remember that I only started doing lighting realistically in about 1992 thus missed lots of history. I know 1979 was a big year in the industry (well after the
360Q) but most of what I learn is second
hand or tinkering with stuff after that.
To add if at all to Steve’s post would be that
Altman as a concept has been that of an alternative to
stage lighting such as American DJ has set themselves up as an alternative to lighting rock shows say in a club setting. Perhaps as a key was that
Altman fixtures started using azark aluminum reflectors in their 360
line as opposed to still steel even if say silvered steel reflectors in other brands. The
Altman line perhaps became more cost effective earlier. Into the 1970's in fights between brands, Century being bought out (Major disappearing), it became at some
point as I am familar with a
Strand /
Altman question at one
point.
Strand always having “superior” optics,
Altman being more cost effective. L&E, Times Square, Century,
Colortran and others like Kliegl, asleep at the wheel. In the 1980's I expect this was much the case. I was raised on “Century”
Strand fixtures into the early 1990's and they are good fixtures.
In comparison of say a same era Century
Leko verses that of an
Altman Leko, it’s different sized and design of
reflector and even slightly different shapes and fittings to the
gate reflector - but the same concept.
Altman parts will work just as you can now as the reason
Altman no longer sells the 360
lamp cap assembly, retrofit an older model (P-28s) radial
base to that of the new TP-22 (G-9.5) one and it will work, but mostly it’s an economics type of thing I would think by way of long old gear not cost effective to keep stocking. A
lamp cap to a Century
fixture is different not much in function but by way of how it fits and works. Century and other
Leko parts started having minor differences about the time of the
360Q which was revolutionary in the industry to the extent that the S-4
fixture was in the industry. Both sort of like, this is what your
stage looks like when lit by candle, and this is what it looks like when lit by “
halogen” light. The differences between say a 360 with a DNW and a
360Q with EHD are marked, just as that difference with a
360Q with EHD and S-4 with
HPL 575 are marked and legend.
Out of observation, the
Strand line of
fixture did a still asleep belatedly upgrade to their fixtures once the
ETC S-4 and Shakesphere fixtures came out, but it wasn’t much an improvement - only slightly in already having a very good optically efficient
fixture they were known for, than cutting costs and making it lighter in using thinner/cheaper materials. A few improvements, but nothing revolutionary. About the time that
ETC came out with the 750w rated fixtures,
Strand woke up again with coming out with a new class of more in
line with what I term “third generation”
fixture. Selcon also being “Third generation” in an “off shore” company now replacing many of the older “domestic” brands for leading
edge in design and efficiency.
First generation
Leko incandescent - radial. Second generation
Leko - takes advantage of improved
halogen lamps the EHD and EHG for the
axial fixture. Third generation fixtures and lamps take advantage of better optics, lowered
voltage in the lamp’s
rating and refined filaments such as in the
HPL, FLK and GLA for a more efficient
axial fixture and lamp. Fourth generation lamps are coming or out there in the case of the HPR (internal
reflector first seen on a FEL lamp but not a long lasting concept) or DYS by way of
dichroic coatings on them and being improved upon even today in attempting to do for say a
HPL lamp. IN the coming months, expect a new fourth generation
HPL lamp for instance from GE. On fourth generation Lekos, the Selcon 90 degree
fixture is also right on the cusp in general of a fourth generation
Leko and has become a major player in good
fixture while other lines sleep or product develop the next generation.
Still in my impression,
Altman during the 1970's and 1980's was a budget
fixture. If you had it, you bought
Strand or what other “traditional” lines of
fixture you were used to or the sales person was apt to sell you. If you were on a budget you bought into that
360Q fixture that was cheaper and turned out to have a really good design. Otherwise if in a less advertised sence but still rocket science way, the
360Q was more advanced earlier than other brands - a more efficient
fixture. It was also simply more cost efficient. World wide marketing also went far and perhaps also had lots to do with it being the most important second generation
Leko of it's time.
I recommend that for term paper you contact
Altman Lighting directly to get their slant and help. Also contact other manufacturers and the web host for the Kliegl Brother's Website to
gain incite about this past history. Believe there was also a few books written that you should research on the subject of lighting history. Such books can be found within a search of the forum which will add more to this history and provide titles to the various books.