BulbCollector Forums
BULB DISCUSSION BOARDS => Antique Bulb Discussion => Topic started by: sec on June 30, 2006, 11:50:46 am
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I just acquired a ruby glass, carbon filament lamp with the normal black insulator base. It has no marks on the bulb but there is an oval sticker printed: "EDISON" with the watts (64) and volts (125) written in ink. I have searched for a similar marked example to date it but no luck. Does anyone know when this sticker was used? I have attached some photographs. It is a very dark red and was in use on a front porch. Thanks for your help.
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Hi sec, welcome to the forum.? Thanks for sharing the pictures - nice old bulb you have there.? As far as I know, GE/Edison used oval labels from around 1901 to about 1905.? The label on your bulb looks a little different than what I have normally seen.? The more common oval Edison label can be viewed on this particular bulb shown at the link below:
Click Here (http://bulbcollector.com/gateway/Incandescent_Lamps/Carbon_Filament/1901-1960/General%20Electric%20-%20Edison/image/c0113.jpg)
As you will notice, both labels are oval in shape but differ slightly.? I would guess the age to be the same though.? I hope this helps a bit!
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Tim, thanks for the information. I guessed it dated about 1901 but just wanted to get confirmation on that. Why do you think the label has watts instead of candlepower? Isn't that unusual for the date?
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The term "watts" was printed on the labels of American made light bulbs beginning around 1910. Perhaps this is a better clue to your bulb's exact age as opposed to the shape of the label. Sorry I can't narrow the date further - perhaps someone else reading this can provide a more specific time frame.