Willis Lamm's Traffic Signal Collection (And Street Lights Too) Clicking on a picture will bring up a larger view in a new window.   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.

Most of the original teardrops were high voltage series lamps equipped with Jones sockets. When the switchover to mercury vapor came, the Jones sockets were typically modified for 110 volt mercury vapor with remote ballasts and photo controls mounted on the utility poles. A few luminaires were later modified for remote ballasted high pressure sodium lamps, which could be accomplished if the run between the ballast and ignitor pack and the lamp wasn't too long.

Disassembled parts: refractor, reflector with positioning tabs removable "Jones" socket and head.

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.

How the Teardrop compares with Spherolite refractors.
(L to R) Spherolite, Jr., Spherolite and Teardrop.

How the luminaire appears in the collection.

Same type head and reflector with Joslyn semi-teardrop glass.

Lighting up at dusk.

Various Line Material luminaires in operation.

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Line Material "Ovalite" Street Light