1950's Lighting

[YoungBart]

Hi All,
I'm sure most of you are far to young to remember the 1950's, But maybe you've got a friend that does....
Basically I am currently working on the electrical design for a redevelopment of the Beamish museum in the North East, One of my tasks is to find info on 1950's fluorescent lighting (preferably batten fittings) but anything would help, Im especially after info on lamp colour and wattage but any info/pics/brochures would be of use. I've emailed a few companies but just wanted to see what you guys could come up with, Any help would be much appreciated .Unfortunately The 50's happened 30years before myself...

Thanks Again
James

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I was mulling this over, something didn't sound right, then 5-foot 80-watt just rolled off my tongue. 5' tubes were 80W, not 85W, and ran on mercury gear not LPS. Now I can picture the catalogues too; from the 50s I have lots of Ekco stuff, Atlas (= Thorn), Philips, Crompton, GE, Strong, Linolite, Holophane, Benjamin, and a couple of other minor firms.

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Yeah, I thought 85 didn't sound right when I posted. The T12's later came marked up dual wattage : 65/80 watt (which then became 58 watt in the late 70's.) They also made them in 3ft/30 watt and 4ft/40 watt but have personally never seen them.

 

[ruston]

I just took a 60's or 70's 4" out this week if it is any use to Lucian or Bart.

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Here are a few pics of the adaptors and starters, the actual 80 watt 5ft bc fluorescent tube I'm afraid has been discarded so I'm unable to post a picture of it.

 

[ian.settle1]

The fluorescent tubes that were made and used in the 50's had a bayonet cap at each end as opposed to the bi-pin configuration we have today.I can't remember but I think they were rated at 85 watts for a 5 foot tube. They also needed a 4 pin metal cased starter to get them to strike. If I think on I'll try and post a picture of one tomorrow.

Don't forget about the 2 clips required to hold the lamp in the fitting as the BC end caps where loose

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Don't forget about the 2 clips required to hold the lamp in the fitting as the BC end caps where loose

Yes some manufacturers used 'terry' clips to hold the tube but other manufacturers used removable end guards to support the tubes in situ. (I can post a pic if you like.)

 

[YoungBart]

I've just found this site with some old catalogues on,

Historic Lamp Catalogues

One of the Philips ones has an instant self start, its just a fluorescent tube with a lamp in series. Anyone seen any of these ?

 

[Deleted member 72666]

I've just found this site with some old catalogues on,

Historic Lamp Catalogues

One of the Philips ones has an instant self start, its just a fluorescent tube with a lamp in series. Anyone seen any of these ?

Thanks for taking the time to post your find and what an interesting find it is! I noticed in the Osram catalogue that they produced a 1½ ft 15 watt tube and all fluorescent tubes carried an extra tax known as a Purchase Tax Extra at 26% which must have made them far too expensive for the average home owner to contemplate installing!
PS
If there was a 'double like' button I would have used it on this occasion!

 

[AA410]

My mum still plugs the iron in the kitchen lamp holder the twin flex is getting a bit tatty now must replace it soon

 

[YoungBart]

Ok, So my next question on the subject is what about power, What where the sockets like? and how many per room?

I get the impression that the lighting consisted of one ceiling light in a room, with a few wall lights in the living room, Controlled by the old style dome switch things?

 

[Deleted member 72666]

Don't forget the 2 way switching found in bedrooms, the switch at the bedhead was often twisted cables from the wall/ceiling dangling to a 'bulb' type switch (don't know the correct name for this).
Sockets (round pin) were usually few and far between and came in 3 sizes 2, 5 and 15 amp and you'd have been lucky to have more than one of each size (usually single gang from what I've seen) in the living room. Most if not all of the accessories were made from bakelite.
Also feel free to use the thanks or like buttons.

 

[YoungBart]

Thanks for the info, much appreciated, I'd forgotten about 2 waying in a bedroom (oooo matron) until you said that, then memories of my grans house came flooding back, complete with salmon pink bathroom suite.

Also feel free to use the thanks or like buttons.

I do try, unfortunately most of the time im on an old works phone, and certain features aren't always workable, God forbid I want to add an smiley....