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Atlas Commemorative E.R. Coronation Lamp |
Four variants of Coronation neon lamps are known to have been created. This example was manufactured at Sir Jules Thorn's first lamp factory, the Atlas Lamp Works on Angel Road in Edmonton, North London. It is clear that this lamp is intended for cap up operation, but an equivalent product was also offered to read correctly when installed in cap down fittings. Osram-GEC also manufactured two very similar products at their Hammersmith works, also in London. The GEC is known to have issued one lamp to each employee at the factory however it is not known whether or not any of these lamps were offered for sale to the public, or how many were manufactured.
Technologically, this lamp is made along the same lines as the Beehive Neon nightlight lamps offered by both companies. The electrodes are fabricated from Swedish Iron wire, which was employed because it offered a greatly reduced rate of sputtering and consequently the problem of bulb blackening, commonly found in inferior neon lamps, could be alleviated. The glass envelope contains a neon-argon Penning mixture substantially the same as is employed in the majority of low pressure sodium lamps. Ballasting is accomplished by a wirewound and porcelain encased resistor which is housed inside the brass cap. The Crown forms one electrode, the "ER" forming the other, its supply wire being insulated by a glass sleeve. A corona discharge causes a glow to envelop all exposed metal areas.
| Manufacturer: | Thorn Electrical Industries Ltd. | |
| Lamp Power: | 5 Watts | |
| Lamp Current: | 0.20 Milliamps | |
| Lamp Voltage: | 230-260 Volts | |
| Cap: | B22d/25x26 (Brass) | |
| Bulb Finish: | Clear | |
| Bulb Type: | PS-68 | |
| Overall Length: | 125 mm | |
| Light Centre Length: | N/A | |
| Electrodes: | Swedish Iron wire | |
| Atmosphere: | Neon-Argon Penning mixture | |
| Luminous Flux: | N/A | |
| Luminous Efficacy: | N/A | |
| Colour Temperature: | N/A | |
| Chromaticity Co-ordinates: | N/A | |
| Rated Life: | Not Published | |
| Factory: | Angel Road, Edmonton | United Kingdom |
| Date of Manufacture: | June 1953 | |
| Original / Present Value: | Not Known | |