Lets see your vintage shop work lights

[Mike'smeatshop]

Geno, I would be happy to save them for you whenever you are up this way. They were already in the garage when we moved in. I tried converting some of the fixtures in the basement to LED and the new bulbs didn’t last long, which was an unpleasant surprise. Maybe you would like to take a tour of the basement if you stop by.
-Don

Can we all come?

 

[genog]

Geno, I would be happy to save them for you whenever you are up this way......
Maybe you would like to take a tour of the basement if you stop by.
-Don

I'd love to
Rarely get up to the East Bay, but.....I'll make an effort

 

[d42jeep]

I tried different tubes in the one with the external ballast and they both lit up. The reflector seems not to be metal.
-Don

 

[Bert_]

I tried different tubes in the one with the external ballast and they both lit up. The reflector seems not to be metal.
-Don

That definitely means it was manufactured during WW2. They were often using a wood fiber hardboard type material. Supposedly the external ballast was also a metal conserving design. The steel housing could be made smaller that way.

It should be a preheat ballast with a starter (small round metal can) for each lamp. These are extremely reliable ballasts. I've got a half dozen and they all work fine. There are still good options out there for 40w bulbs

 

[Provincial]

I have done two types of LED conversions. The first uses bulbs that just plug in and leave the existing ballasts in place. The second requires changing the internal wiring to eliminate the ballast and run the bulbs on 120V power. I much prefer the latter type. It is more work at first, but the bulbs seem to last forever.

I bought a circular bulb for my magnifier from Home Depot through Ebay. I only had to plug it in, without any modifications, and it lights up instantly when turned on.

 

[Bert_]

Here's your PSA to check the basics when troubleshooting this stuff.

I have this 2x 20w fluorescent adapter in my kitchen. A month or so ago the bulbs were burning out, kept cycling on the starter. No big deal, they were used bulbs when I put it up 6 years ago. Put two new bulbs in and it worked fine... For about a week. Then it randomly would not start. Sometimes it would flicker for a second and then go out.

I pulled it down and looked everything over. Checked the ceiling fixture by screwing in a regular bulb which worked fine. The plug was the type that just presses together. The wire fit very loose so I replaced that. Still had problems. The screw in adapter didn't fit the plug very tight so I got a new one. Thought finally it was fixed... About 4 days later it won't start.

I was thinking it over figuring this is what I get for wanting to use 70-year-old junk.

I finally got my meter out and tested the voltage at the sockets. And..... 95 volts. I checked an outlet that I thought was on the same circuit, yep, 95 volts. Went down to my breaker panel which naturally, since it's what I do for a living, is mostly unmarked. Check the wire coming out of each breaker one by one until I found one with, you guessed it, 95 volts. The screw had 120v but the wire read 95. Wiggled the wire around and tightened the screw.

So there were no problems with my 75 year old fluorescent light. It was that "modern" breaker from about 1980

For those that don't know this is called an adapter. They were meant to attach to an existing light fixture in place of the incandescent bulb and glass globe. This one runs about 6 hours a day this time of year, sometimes more.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

Tonight I had this vintage Flexo light on with the new GE LED T8 tubes for a couple of hours. The base got very very hot (uncomfortable to the touch but didn’t burn me) and I noticed a burning smell.

I will try it again with the standard fluorescent tube and see if the base no longer gets hot and the burning smell goes away.

Any ideas on what’s happening? This lamp hasn’t been turned on in years.

This has not happened with the Dazor I have in my garage that uses two of these same GE Color select LED tubes. I’d really like to be able to use this light. Ideally with an LED tube, reluctantly with a traditional fluorescent tube.

Thanks.

I ended up with a Flexo from an estate sale today in much worse shape. Im fairly certain I will have to make a new reflector, so I have some work to do.
Did you figure out why it was getting hot? Mine has no bulbs so I plan on putting LEDs in it.


I also ended up with two Luxo L-1 lights, and a Luxo L-35D which I can’t find anything on. I’ll post pictures of them, they are very medical/hospital looking.

I didn’t need them, but for $4 each I figured I couldn’t go wrong.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

A few pictures of the Luxo’s. There are two identical L-1 stamped models, and one L-350 (not 35D as I said above).

The L-1 lamps have a small bulb and switch in the box at the base in addition to the switch on the back of the light head. They have a post for a socket, which sadly I couldn’t find.


The 350 has a wall plate and an additional short horizontal arm, the rest is basically an L-1. It doesn’t have the switch and light at the base.

 

[fishwatcher]

I ended up with a Flexo from an estate sale today in much worse shape. Im fairly certain I will have to make a new reflector, so I have some work to do.
Did you figure out why it was getting hot? Mine has no bulbs so I plan on putting LEDs in it.


I also ended up with two Luxo L-1 lights, and a Luxo L-35D which I can’t find anything on. I’ll post pictures of them, they are very medical/hospital looking.

I didn’t need them, but for $4 each I figured I couldn’t go wrong.

I did not. I have two Dazors which take the ge led tubes very easily.. but in the Luxo.. I just stuck with fluorescent tubes. I’m sure somebody with more electrical know how could make the change. I was looking for an out of the box fix.

 

[Beerhippie]

I did not. I have two Dazors which take the ge led tubes very easily.. but in the Luxo.. I just stuck with fluorescent tubes. I’m sure somebody with more electrical know how could make the change. I was looking for an out of the box fix.

Were the LEDs you bought specified for use with a ballast? Some are, some require the ballast be taken out of the circuit.

 

[GarageHobbyist]

I did not. I have two Dazors which take the ge led tubes very easily.. but in the Luxo.. I just stuck with fluorescent tubes. I’m sure somebody with more electrical know how could make the change. I was looking for an out of the box fix.

Got it.
Since I need to make a reflector for it I will take a look at everything under it and figure out what to do. Luckily I have a brand new polished stainless dress plate for a truck tool box in my scrap pile that should make a decent reflector.

 

[fishwatcher]

Got it.
Since I need to make a reflector for it I will take a look at everything under it and figure out what to do. Luckily I have a brand new polished stainless dress plate for a truck tool box in my scrap pile that should make a decent reflector.

Good luck! If you end up finding a solution with easy to follow instructions, I’d love to convert it to accept an LED tube. Here’s where mine is used today.