Les
Well-Known Member
I came across an old ellipsoidal lighting fixture and I'm wondering what type of lamp it takes. It appears to be from the late 50's - early 60's era. It has one 6" lens (6 x 9 focal length) and a non-axial socket. It appears to have a prefocus base, but I've heard that a BTN, BTL style of lamp is too short and the filament wont be positioned correctly in the reflector.
I'm not sure if the fixture originally had only one lens. The one it has is thicker than one of a 360Q, but it's not a stepped lens. Also, the lens appears clear, not 'coke-bottle green'. The reason I don't think it's supposed to have a second lens is because with the spacer in, it appears to not have room for another. The spacer just keeps the lens at the right place in the barrel. I took a 360Q base and stuck the lamp in the reflector and turned it on, and the light that came out appeared focused. It was just a weird shape because the lamp wasn't far enough in.
All the shutters are in good shape, and have probably been replaced. It looks like it takes the same shutters as a 360Q. The leads look like asbestos and are seperated from each other. I would replace it but each conductor enters the light through a different hole. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe I should see if I can just drill a new, big hole in the middle. I would consider replacing the base too (to retrofit a 2-pin lamp) but the one it has looks to be in good condition, and I don't really want to have to design and build a complicated riser system.
Another key feature of this light is that the pivot knobs are etched and are in the shape of theatrical masks (happy, unhappy). Other than that, there is no marquee of indication of who made the light and when. Can anyone help? I'll try to post a picture if anyone asks.
I'm not sure if the fixture originally had only one lens. The one it has is thicker than one of a 360Q, but it's not a stepped lens. Also, the lens appears clear, not 'coke-bottle green'. The reason I don't think it's supposed to have a second lens is because with the spacer in, it appears to not have room for another. The spacer just keeps the lens at the right place in the barrel. I took a 360Q base and stuck the lamp in the reflector and turned it on, and the light that came out appeared focused. It was just a weird shape because the lamp wasn't far enough in.
All the shutters are in good shape, and have probably been replaced. It looks like it takes the same shutters as a 360Q. The leads look like asbestos and are seperated from each other. I would replace it but each conductor enters the light through a different hole. Does anyone have any suggestions? Maybe I should see if I can just drill a new, big hole in the middle. I would consider replacing the base too (to retrofit a 2-pin lamp) but the one it has looks to be in good condition, and I don't really want to have to design and build a complicated riser system.
Another key feature of this light is that the pivot knobs are etched and are in the shape of theatrical masks (happy, unhappy). Other than that, there is no marquee of indication of who made the light and when. Can anyone help? I'll try to post a picture if anyone asks.