research
 Patents
 Books
 Literature
 Articles
 Timeline
 Auction Archive

about
 About this site
 Wanted to buy

bulb gallery

Incandescent:
C
carbon
WD
drawn tungsten
WC
coiled tungsten
WM
mini tungsten
WS
pressed tung.
FG
figural bulbs
XL
christmas
XS
christmas sets
T
tantalum

Discharge:
NE
neon lamps
AR
argon lamps
XE
xenon lamps
MA
mercury
MC
fluorescent
MS
special mercury

Hardware:
F
fuses
FX
fixtures
PF
plugs & fittings
SA
sockets
SW
switches

tube gallery

 X-ray
 Geissler
 Crookes
 Radio
 Box art

museum pics

 Dr. Hugh Hicks
 
Fort Myers, FL.
 S.Slabyhoudek

links

 Related links
 Submit a link

 

Author Topic: Newbe with a couple of questions  (Read 6878 times)

Offline herbert

  • New Member!
  • *
  • Posts: 3
Newbe with a couple of questions
« on: September 25, 2009, 03:51:49 am »
Hi there,
Without boring you all with the motivation (yet) I think I am on the verge of starting a new hobby - collecting old (British) Christmas lights; and I have a couple of questions for those here who are far more knowledgeable than myself.

Firstly. At first glance (and I freely admit to having broken the rule of joining a forum of reading thoroughly before contributing) this one seems to be largely US based. Is there a UK 'branch' or equivalent anywhere?

Secondly. I recently purchased a set of lights unlike any other I have seen. Rather than being wired in series (most of my sets are 12 bulb 240 volt UK), this one consists of 8 holders (mes like my other sets) wired in parallel, and with spade connectors at the terminations. The holders are the green porcelein type and the wire seems to be more like the material covered type which I believe was used in the 1920's. Can anyone shed any light on what this set is? I have never come across small decorative bulbs running at 240 volt (or even 110 if these are American), and if there were such things then this would be a remarkably dangerous set to run. I am assuming that these probably took a standard 20 or 15 volt lamp and were run off a transformer.Either way if these are old then they are in pretty much unused condition. The wiring is perfect, even where it enters the holders.
Sorry I don't have a shot of them yet. Any ideas please?

Best wishes Herbert

Offline Tim

  • Administrator
  • Hero Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 831
    • http://www.bulbcollector.com
Re: Newbe with a couple of questions
« Reply #1 on: September 25, 2009, 03:48:18 pm »
Hi Herbert,

Thanks for joining and welcome to the forum.  Yes, this site is based in the US, however there are collectors from all over the world that participate.  The forum is open to anyone and there are a number of Christmas light collectors on here based in the UK to discuss things with.