Willis Lamm's
|
Line Material (L-M) Teardrop Street Light |
"Teardrop" is a common name given to pendant style street lights having elongated refractors such as the GE Form 101. Teardrop lights were typically used in applications where larger, higher intensity bulbs were used and when it was desirable for additional light to be projected to the sides. These larger, brighter lamps often included internal cutoff reflectors to guide most of the light in appropriate directions.
These lights were quite common in Los Angeles and southern California lighting boulevards and major intersections. As technology progressed, many of these icons of the south state remained in service, but with remote ballasted mercury vapor bulbs installed, and in a few instances, remote ballasted high pressure sodium lamps. |
The three irregularly spaced positioning tabs attached to the reflector ensured that the refractor would be oriented to the correct position. (If you disassemble one of these lamps you need to make sure that all of the smooth indentations in the refractor line up with the tabs to prevent stress and possible cracking.) |
Smooth indentation for a tab to fit against.
|
A tab properly "nested."
|
Line Material logo in the glass.
|
View of the function of the cutoff reflector.
|
I installed an identical lamp for area lighting. The original refractor had been broken but a Joslyn semi-teardrop fit perfectly. |