Modular compact fluorescent lamp

Description
A major hurdle that makers of compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) have faced stems from the unusual shapes of the lamps, as compared to traditional incandescent lamps. Consumers have grown used to what light bulbs "are supposed" to look like. Many have rejected CFLs for that reason despite the potential cost savings.
As lamp makers refined their understanding of the new product, designs were introduced to meet consumers' preferences for less-intrusive styles. Duro-Test developed a series of five modular CFLs around 1996, including this "Duro-Brite" unit that has a removable glass globe covering the twin-tube lamp. Another unit in the collection sports a removable glass reflector. The base-units contain the lamp's ballast and starter, and the tube assemblies themselves are interchangeable.
This unit is a modular CFL with three components: a tube assembly, an adapter, and a glass cover.
Lamp characteristics: Tube assembly is a twin-tube unit mounted on a plastic base. The adapter has a medium-screw base-shell with an insulator that is part of the plastic skirt housing the ballast. A G23 socket is on top for the tube assembly, and key-slots are molded around the edge to attach the cover. Cover is a G-shaped, clear-glass envelope with aluminum collar at bottom. There are stamped protrusions on the inside of the collar to mount the cover onto the adapter. Electrical rating is 13 watts.
Object Name
discharge lamp
fluorescent lamp
date made
ca. 1996
Date made
ca 1996
manufacturer
DURO-TEST Corporation
Physical Description
glass (overall material)
plastic (overall material)
mercury (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 8 1/2 in x 5 in; 21.59 cm x 12.7 cm
Place Made
United States: New Jersey, Bergen
ID Number
1997.0062.11
catalog number
1997.0062.11
accession number
1997.0062
subject
Energy & Power
See more items in
Work and Industry: Electricity
Data Source
National Museum of American History, Kenneth E. Behring Center
Credit Line
from Duro-Test Corporation
Publication title
Lighting A Revolution
Publication URL
http://americanhistory.si.edu/lighting/

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