Sceptre lightbulb (Poland)

1950's lightbulb in corrugated sleeve, rated 240v 100w Frosted with BC cap. Nothing I can add on this one. I presume it was made for the UK market.

sold 2003

Atlas ARP WWII light bulb

This English made Atlas ARP (Air Raid Precautions) lightbulb was intended for use in the 'blackouts' during air raids. Rated at 240/250v 60w with a BC base it gives of a very dull blue glow.

Unlike others I have seen this ones coating is complete. The slogan on the box "Atlas Lamps Make Light Work" seems a little strange for a bulb that does not give off enough light to work by! The box has been rubber stamped A.R.P. on two sides and lower flap.

Sold 2003

Pope car pip top light bulb

Pope motor car light bulb with pip and drawn tungsten filament. Marked "Pope 48". SBC base. Probably made in the earlier part of the 1910-early 1920's period.

Sold 2003

Neon Nightlight 1930's - Bird on branch

Crescent Moon Neon Night light. With wrapper, made in England. Bird is designed to be used from a hanging holder, giving a gentle pink neon glow, bulbs is rated 200-250v 5w and has a BC cap.

These were always my favourites, I sold the third one to another light bulb collector when I found them, it was a different animal. None of the collectors I met had ever seen these before.

Sold 2003

Neon Nightlight 1930's - Bunny Rabbit

Crescent Moon Neon Nightlight. With wrapper, made in England. Rabbit is designed to be used in the upright position, giving a gentle pink neon glow, bulbs is rated 200-250v 5w and has a BC cap.

These were always my favourites, I sold the third one to another light bulb collector when I found them, it was a different animal. None of the collectors I met had ever seen these before.

Sold 2003

Baby Sashalite - 1940's flashbulb

This is a Baby 'Sashalite' Photoflash Bulb with wrapper and leaflets. The wrapper includes a World War 2 recycling request for the paper dating this bulb from 1939 to about 1946. This is a single use bulb and was made from the 1930's and through to the 1950's. The leaflet suggest using an electric torch, replacing the bulb, to fire it. Camera synchronisation was achieved by opening the shutter, firing the bulb, closing the shutter. This is a 'Long flash' model and has an MES base.

Leaflets included are two copies of Instructions for Use, a Warning notice that the bulb may explode when used!!! and that it should not be connected to the mains. Unlike modern products there is no mention of peanuts ;-). Also a small card containg an exposure guide for fixed and variable aperture cameras. Additionally there is a leaflet for Philips "Photoflux" bulbs.

Patented by JOHANNES OSTERMEIER in 1930.

Sold 2003

Rare switching light bulb.

This bulb has no markings at all and as it has a totally opaque white glass over clear glass bulb the coiled tungsten filaments cannot be seen easily. There is a small hole in the white glass that allows you to look inside with a strong eyeglass. The filaments are arranged in two circles, one above the other, with around ten supports each - sorry cannot be more exact. The base is standard BC. The bulb is about 90mm long. Two silk cords are tied to loops at the end of a chain that connects to the switch. One cord is pink with a dark wooden knob and the other white silk with a light wooden knob. It probably dates between 1915 and 1925, despite being pipless.

Until 1925 when internal frosting was developed was introduced, all diffusion had to be added to the finished bulb - this example has been made for a decorative situation, possibly a railway carriage, where shades would not be used and dimming was desirable. I am fairly certain it has been coated in white glass and the pip, if it had one on top, polished of prior to adding the white glass. A lot of work and thus an expensive bulb for its time.

Nonetheless, this is a rare beast. It seems likely that this a dual filament bulb with a dim and bright setting. Most of the earliest switched bulbs offered this feature - later dual filament lamps with less convenient switching were designed for economy and had two identically rated filaments. Lightbulbs were an expensive luxury in those days and anything to reduce the cost made an interesting gimmick.

Sold 2003

Phillips Super Auto light bulb

The bulb is rated at 6v 24 Watts and 32 cp, it has an SC base. The bulb itself has been made from a pale blue glass to give a 'daylight' quality to the light. It was made in France from about 1925-35.

Car light bulbs need to have a fairly controlled light source that is more resistant to shock than domestic use bulbs. The arrangement of the lead-in wires in this bulb achieves a perfectly central and vertical coiled tungsten filament.

One flap of the box has separated at the hinged edge.

Note the spelling of Phillips with two L's, unlike the Dutch Philips with only 1 L.

Sold 2003

Fenbo Glareless Crystal lamp (1)

This is a British made Fenbo light bulb rated at 100v 60w with a BC fitting. Manufactured by John Ismay & Sons Ltd, Roden Street, Ilford, circa 1929 or later.

The 'Crystal Glass' moulding, shown in close-up, was intended to give better diffusion without glare. Various patent numbers are printed on the box and a design registration number for 1929 on it. Box graphics are consistent with 1920-30's design.

Sold 2003

Doto (Fenbo) dual filament light bulb

This is a British made Doto (Fenbo) dual filament light bulb rated at 105v 25w + 25w with a 3BC fitting. Manufactured by John Ismay & Sons Ltd, Roden Street, Ilford, circa 1929 or later.

This BC cap is a cunning design that could be used in two pin bulb-holders. When the first 25W filament blew, you removed it from the holder, twisted the cap and replaced it in the holder bringing the second 25W filament into use. The slight offset of the BC pins allowed the two smaller pads to make contact separately. There were three pad fittings that had a switched bulb holder to select filaments but the Doto design could be used without changing the bulb holder.

The 'Crystal Glass' moulding was intended to give better diffusion. One end flap is separated but present. Various patent numbers are printed on the box, but dated by another Fenbo single filament bulb (also for sale) that included a design registration number on it.

Sold 2003