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BULB DISCUSSION BOARDS => Antique Bulb Discussion => Topic started by: amanco on January 17, 2009, 11:14:02 pm

Title: Do I have a Westinghouse with Byllesby-Lange style base?
Post by: amanco on January 17, 2009, 11:14:02 pm
Do I have a Westinghouse with Byllesby-Lange style base?  I have had this bulb for about 25 years.  I dont remember where I got it.  I would just like to know what type of bulb it is.
Title: Re: Do I have a Westinghouse with Byllesby-Lange style base?
Post by: Tim on January 17, 2009, 11:18:22 pm
Welcome to the forum,

Can you provide a photo showing the bottom of the bulb's base?  I'd like to see the insulating material used in the base before commenting.
Title: Re: Do I have a Westinghouse with Byllesby-Lange style base?
Post by: amanco on January 17, 2009, 11:55:02 pm
The base seems to be filled with a white ceramic material.  The metal around and center pin maybe brass or copper that has a heavy patina on it, probably from being exposed to weather at some time during its life.
Title: Re: Do I have a Westinghouse with Byllesby-Lange style base?
Post by: Tim on January 20, 2009, 06:50:32 pm
I believe that your bulb is a fairly typical Westinghouse based light bulb and most likely dates to about 1900.  I don?t know who made the bulb, and I use ?Westinghouse? loosely to describe the ?Westinghouse type? base fitted to your bulb.  This doesn?t mean it was made by Westinghouse.  All Byllesby-Lange based bulbs that I have encountered are like the one shown in the photo below.  Note the bowling pin shaped center contact pin, the red cranberry glass insulator, and the flared ridge at the top of the base.  These are all unique features used to separate B-L bases from the more common Westinghouse type base.
Title: Re: Do I have a Westinghouse with Byllesby-Lange style base?
Post by: amanco on January 20, 2009, 09:30:40 pm
Thanks for the answer Tim~  ALso thanks for the great web site. I also maintain a site of sorts, antique engines.  I answer e-mails from all over the world.  I have a few common Edison Mazda bulbs that I light up from time to time. I love the glow!