BulbCollector Forums
BULB DISCUSSION BOARDS => Antique Bulb Discussion => Topic started by: William Oelker on October 01, 2001, 12:41:00 pm
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Hi All, I wonder if anyone knows anything about this light bulb? Thanks All
Marked -----236W/120V
http://homestead.juno.com/boelker/files/oldlights/Dcp_06961.jpg (http://homestead.juno.com/boelker/files/oldlights/Dcp_06961.jpg) http://homestead.juno.com/boelker/files/oldlights/Dcp_0697.jpg (http://homestead.juno.com/boelker/files/oldlights/Dcp_0697.jpg)
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What you have there is a Carbon Heater Lamp which was primarily used for medicinal purposes. They were made by a good many companies (I have one made by NALCO), and I believe between the mid 1910s to the end of the 30s or maybe later. They were used in fixtures with parabolic, adjustable, reflectors. The heat radiated from the bulb, focussed by the reflector dish, was directed to aching joints, the warmth relieved the pain somewhat- a method still used today with similar fixtures, but using tungsten PAR lamps.
There are some types of those lamps which have a neat looking spring-like conical spiral filament, and rarely, with a frosted exterior except for a clear circular "window". This is known as a "Stereoptican" filament shape, and those were used in Magic Lanterns and other projectors since they gave a bright, concentrated light. But your lamp was almost certainly used just for medicinal warming effects. Maybe a room-heater on a tight budget? (http://www.bulbcollector.com/ubb/smile.gif) Since it`s tipless I`d estimate it dates from the mid 20s or onwards.
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