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Integral compact fluorescent lamp

Integral compact fluorescent lamp

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Description
Between the two World Wars many large lamp makers attempted to control competition in the international electric lamp trade through organizations known as cartels. The demise of the Phoebus cartel after World War 2 resulted in the globalization of the market for electric lamps. The global nature of the market is easily seen by the wide array of compact fluorescent lamps available from manufacturers around the world.
This lamp was made in Korea for Feit Electric Company of Los Angeles around 1986. The lamp is made as an integral unit and is intended to replace an incandescent lamp. The arc tube is twisted into a spiral so as to give the lamp the long arc path needed for efficiency. A magnetic, coil-core ballast contained in the base housing controls the current passing through the lamp. Coil-core ballasts have been replaced by more efficient electronic ballasts in today's compact fluorescent lamps.
Lamp characteristics: medium-screw base-shell. The base insulator is part of the plastic skirt that houses a magnetic ballast and a neon-glow starter. A double-arch arc-tube contains two electrodes, a small amount of mercury and is coated with a phosphor. A clear, plastic cover protects the tube. Both the base skirt and the cover have slots for ventilation. Lamp rated at 18 watts. Received in original package.
Object Name
fluorescent lamp
discharge lamp
Date made
ca 1986
date made
ca. 1986
maker
Feit Electric Company
place made
South Korea
Physical Description
plastic (overall material)
glass (overall material)
mercury (overall material)
metal (overall material)
Measurements
overall: 6 1/2 in x 3 1/4 in; 16.51 cm x 8.255 cm
ID Number
1997.0389.11
accession number
1997.0389
catalog number
1997.0389.11
Credit Line
from Philips Lighting Co.
See more items in
Work and Industry: Electricity
Energy & Power
Exhibition
Lighting a Revolution
Exhibition Location
National Museum of American History
Data Source
National Museum of American History
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