Author Topic: Shelby bulb? (Read 15672 times)

Tluce · « **on:** May 05, 2002, 09:11:00 am »

Hi all,
I was wondering if anyone knows the story behind the shape of the Shelby bulb. The reason I'm asking is I just acquired several Shelby bulbs and one has a Shelby sticker but is shaped like an ordinary bulb. Not the flattened shape you would ordinarily see in a Shelby. I didn't know Shelby made a bulb other than the flattened out kind. Can anyone enlighten [

] me? Thanks, Tim

Chris W. Millinship · « **Reply #1 on:** May 19, 2002, 03:11:00 pm »

I was under the impression that the characteristic mushroom-shape, coupled with the transverse-oval filament, was to create a superior light distribution to that of the more common double loop. Shelby`s famous bulbs emit more light in the downward direction and less out to the sides- more efficient pattern for pendant fixtures illuminating a dinner table, etc.

I have seen the "other" shape Shelby too. The remnants of the Past-Technology site still has a foto of a green S-shape Shelby bulb, on top of this page:
http://www.angelfire.com/pe/pasttech/l1900.html

There is also a Shelby advertising envelope featured here on Tim`s site:

...which is where I remember seeing about the different shapes first. Knew it was somewhere nearby!

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visit my world of electrical things that glow!

Tim · « **Reply #2 on:** May 20, 2002, 03:42:00 pm »

Anyone ever come across the mushroom shaped Shelby bulbs in colored glass? I've got a ruby red and I know someone on this board has a cobalt blue bulb

I think they are the only colored versions I've seen... Saw an amber one on eBay years ago that someone dug out of the ground but the glass was painted.

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Tim
Kilokat's Antique Light Bulb Site
Mountain Dew Collectibles, Volume I

Tim · « **Reply #3 on:** August 02, 2002, 06:17:00 pm »

...bringing this topic back to life...

I just came across a pair of Shelby "Y-Ray" lamps that differ in shape from the familiar mushroom envelope and the straight sided bulb shown on the paper above. Can anyone comment on the "Y-Ray" and why they were named as such??? Knowing Shelby, I can probably guess the name has something to do with the direction of light output or similar but who knows? They appear to be early Shelby lamps...

Anyone have any Shelby Y-Rays they care to post a picture of???

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Tim
Kilokat's Antique Light Bulb Site
Mountain Dew Collectibles, Volume I

[This message has been edited by tim (edited August 02, 2002).]