GruntPuppy

Hello all, Before zip ties, what did electricians use to keep cables together if they wanted a neat, tidy and safe installation of cables? As a bit of background the Patt 23 project is on hold pending the arrival of the beast itself, plus the accessories that I, have coming to go with it (variable iris, a set of fixed irises, a variable square iris, some gobos/holder, etc) - while browsing eBay (fatal!) I came across a pair of type 43's. They look to have been unsympathetically modified at some point in their past - Victor Frankenstein Specials - each having a gobo wheel rotator fitted, one on its' left side, one on its' right side. My plan is to have one decent standard lamp out of the pair, and to take the remaining bits and make my own Frankenstein special, with 2 wheel rotators (staggered so the wheels don't clash). I'll move the wiring for the rotator motors to the inside, and panel-mount some period toggle switches to keep it neat and usable. What did electricians use to keep wires together safely before cable ties though? I'm like to run the live and neutral wires in a single run to each switch and motor. I realise that there will be some case drilling to fit P-clips to control the runs, I have a friend who can help with period-looking overbraids for the wires, but I'd dearly like to keep it looking nice on the inside as well as the outside - and I'd like to pay some respect to the past. As always, any and all information will be much appreciated.

I don't think the Mk3 (boxy ones) ever came with the reflector 'option', but reckon that plenty of people had a go at improving the light output with whatever they could muster. I don't remember hearing anything about an upgrade kit, so guess any reflector may be robbed from something else. The earlier versions that were lozenge shaped did have a reflector, I think. The old joke about getting more light out of a 45 by facing it backwards and opening the rear door was pretty on the money, and the situation even mentioned in the 1969 catalogue from Strand which states: "The light is recommended for high-lighting applications where low initial cost is considered more important than optical efficiency" It definitely appears that I'm looking at a pair of type 43's, which have at some point been fitted with rear reflectors, either at factory [edit] or [/edit] as a retro-fit - good-oh :)

Angular minimalism is about all the 45 had going for it, certainly not known for its qualities as a lighting instrument. If you are interested in different designs and would like to see a more funky and less boxy version of the Patt 45, search for the Furse SFR. This is indeed true - the Furse is indeed a funky box. But I seem to have Strand Fever. But - one lamp at a time. I have seen pictures of 45's with a rear reflector fitted - is this what they should have, or is this a common despairing retrofit? [edit. Oops. I appear to be tracking a pair of type 43's - the 1000w jobbies. Which do indeed have a rather nugatory rear reflector.

I have a few assorted period stands in the "projects to be completed one day - honest" pile... I've messaged you. I don't seem to have received a message - and I am already sourcing bits for a 123 build, if you can spare one, I'd appreciate it, and be happy to buy it. I also seem to have bookmarked some type 45's for sale... The contrast between the cast aluminium shells of the 23/123 and the angular minimalism of the 45's fascinates me.

Well, goodness. With the faint aging to the copper, that looks beautiful. I'm looking at going with a GLS lamp holder, and was considering the option of a colour-changing LED with remote. The 23 should be with me in a day or 2, and I can start the planning process in detail. It looks like there's going to be a fair few layers of paint to strip, time for the boiling water, hey ho... Since there's currently more chance of finding carrots on the moon than finding a period stand, I'm currently looking at 50's and 60's vintage camera stands in steel/chrome finishes, to come as close as I can in terms of aesthetic and functional matches. [EDIT] I got one :o - I've been messaging the companies that are "professionally" converting lamps (Don't mention PAT tests, many of them go very, very quiet for some reason...) - and I asked many, many of them to sell me a stand. I got a somewhat delayed response from one a few minutes ago, they have a "seconds" one - the same as the one attached to the 123 that I posted, but with a chip in the nickel plating. Not too worried, I'll either get it powder coated or paint it the same colour as I'm going to use on the lamp. I'll either be able to feather back the chip edges, or end up stripping all the plating. Either way, I'll get 'er done.

Copper plated? That must look superb. Is there any chance of a picture? I've been looking at truck chassis enamel colours, I think I'm going with Scania chassis grey on mine, as it's a tough paint with a good build. There will be some polished ally, probably the rear door, lens holder and U bracket. Knowing the correct name of the stand type I like is very, very useful. The hunt begins anew. Please can I pry that 23n handle from your grasp? I would be willing to pay a fair price!

Damn it's good to be able to learn from people who know their stuff inside and out! I've been looking rather hard for a decent stand to mount the 23 on, and also the planned 123 that I hope to follow it with - but finding something that isn't jarringly modern in style and substantial enough to do the job properly is proving troublesome. Does anyone know where I can find a stand like this one?

Yes, usually seen with an N lens to make a basic followspot. I think I have a handle in my box of Patt bits. Would you consider selling it to a good home? I've found a set of the fixed aperture irises, the adjustable mask, a variable iris and period gobo holders. I think I've got a source for period effects gobos too - all of which will be restored and kept. I would dearly like to have a handle as well. This is what I recall being an 823. Well, the long straight front body, at least. The Strand Archive has an entry for such too. 823 is a fresnel I think initially 23N was an alternative lens tube to the normal short one. At some point, the same casting as the 823, with a PC lens and a handle became the Patt 23N MkII. The balance issue with the 23N mk1 was solved as well.

Well my issue of getting a wider angle light throw has been solved - the 23w retro fit of a second lens should give me 37 degrees. But I have learned enough to learn that there is SO MUCH MORE TO LEARN! Thank you all for your help. Incidentally, have any of you ever seen a 23h?

Well that lamp didn't start off looking nice - I had to strip and refinish ALL the ferrous, which was a right bugger to do :) All the polishing was by hand as well. Patience is the key, and lots of wet and dry (for the ferrous at least). And drying off ferrous parts in the oven after working on them with wet ;) I'll be ditching the spread ring and fitting a second lens there to get the 37 degree spread, it's basically what the factory did to "make" the W. At some point, being a right curious bugger, I'd like to try a fresnel at the front AND an additional lense in the spill ring position. Did you say FIRE FLICKER MECHANISM?! Dammit, I must find one! Something tells me that could take enough time to let me finish the Patt 23 conversion, and maybe the 123 I want to do next as well!

Thank you! I hate the bodge jobs I see on eBay all the time, and made the decision NEVER to lower my standards with regards to anything I do that involves electrics. The earth point was a right barsteward though... Those things were the work of the devil! Ok, I'm now monstrously curious. What's bad about the Patt 45's? They don't have the gorgeous swoopy lines of the 23 or 123, but there's a certain charm about them...

Hi Alister, thanks for the info. I did find some information that may be useful elsewhere after reading your post. There is mention of fitting another lens into the 23 to make it a 23w - http://www.strandlighting.co.uk/Patt23/ - and this has been confirmed by another another post on this forum confirming this hack is doable :) I wanted a decently wide light throw, and the hack to take it out to 37 degrees this way is better than a Fresnel lens would do as well. I'd doubt the patt 23 is 5". I have 6" in mind for patt 123 and 4.5" for patt45, my guess is 3.5" for patt23. I have a couple of 45's in a sorry state if parts are of use. Hello Sunray, thanks for the reply. I think I've got it cracked now, but that's a kind offer. I may have to be in touch at a later date, because having just looked up the Patt 45, I think they too are rather wonderful lamps!

Hello! This is my first post on Blue Room, so please, please be gentle... I'm about to start restoring a somewhat shabby Strand Patt 23, and want a wider light throw from it - so I'm looking for a Fresnel lens for it - either new or used. I've been checking eBay, and they just don't come up (or they're hiding from me). Just to clarify, I'm going to use it as a lamp for myself. Before anyone gets too "you're one of the polish it for a loft mob aren't you" - I'm not. I intend to be as sympathetic as possible - there will be powercoating or hammered paint finish applied, I won't be butchering a theodolite tripod to shove it on either. I need a project to keep my hands and brain working, as a wonderful combination of Arthritis and M.E. have got me generally confined to sitting on my arse. I just like lights, is all. This is the last lamp I made - out of a rather neglect petrol blow lamp. Please note that the bulb holder hasn't simply been rammed in one end of the burn tube with a flex coming out of the other, also please note that the pressure pump mechanism has been converted to hide an on/off switch (using the original piston arm knob to totally hide it) and that the cabling has been totally hidden to make it look as "original" as possible. I also sourced vintage style braided cover mains cable and a period bakelite plug for it. The black shiny bits were hand painted with black enamel to match what would have been as close as I could come to the original finish. Please pardon the slightly heavy breathing in the vid, I also have other illnesses that sometimes leave me in a lot of pain, but eh... https://youtu.be/nxRrW_6JBXg But anyway - if anyone can point me in the direction of a source for a fresnel lens for a Patt 23, I would be very grateful - thank you.