BulbCollector Forums

BULB DISCUSSION BOARDS => Antique Bulb Discussion => Topic started by: Simon McConway on December 28, 2008, 06:03:21 pm

Title: Atlas Fluorescent Tubes; still running?
Post by: Simon McConway on December 28, 2008, 06:03:21 pm

I collect Atlas lamps and noticed an old Atlas Fluorescent tube still running in a church.  I believe these lamps were stopped being manufactured around 30 years ago? Anyone still running such a Fluorescent tube?  Most of the Atlas lamps in my collection are projector lamps. 

Title: Re: Atlas Fluorescent Tubes; still running?
Post by: Tim on January 04, 2009, 05:45:51 pm

Welcome to the forum Simon.

I looked through my collection and only have two Atlas lamps, both neon types.  They are pictured here for reference:

http://bulbcollector.com/gateway/Gas_Discharge_Lamps/Neon/Atlas

I would like to get confirmation on when the first one was made (?ne0016?) if you happen to have any data.

It?s amazing that the fluorescent tubes are still operating if they are that old.

Title: Re: Atlas Fluorescent Tubes; still running?
Post by: Chris Kocsis on January 06, 2009, 04:33:43 pm

Ooh!  I'd love to have an Atlas utility glow lamp (already have the ER lamps in both cap-up and cap-down (to use the British phrasing) configurations).

Best,

Chris

Title: Re: Atlas Fluorescent Tubes; still running?
Post by: James on April 19, 2009, 07:45:07 am

Hi Tim, is there any date code marking on your Atlas neon glow lamp?  1940's looks about right though.

Atlas fluorescent tubes are indeed remarkable devices.  They featured an exclusive Braided cathode design (also used in Thorn, Mazda, Omega, Ecko tubes, which were all made in the same factory as the Atlas products).  Instead of being made from a simple coiled tungsten wire, their cathodes were braided into a hollow tube from seven fine wires of tungsten.  The emissive compound was held inside this tube particularly strongly, resulting in exceptional lifetimes.  Even though Atlas brand lamps have not been manufactured since the early 1970s, I recall when at University 10 years ago there were significant quantities of their fluorescent tubes still operating with more than 30 years service.

Perhaps for obvious reasons, the braided cathode was discontinued around the same time and the factory switched over to using a simple coiled tungsten electrode like the competition.

Title: Re: Atlas Fluorescent Tubes; still running?
Post by: AlecJames on August 31, 2009, 11:35:43 am

I have 3 Atlas "Quick start" reflector 4' tubes still running in my conservatory.  They were there when I bought the house over 10 years ago.  I was searching to see whether I could still get reflector tubes since these are the only ones I've ever seen. 
Could they be 30 years old? 
A