PAR cans : how old are they ?

[nico_ah]

Hi

 

I think both THOMAS and GE LIGHTING initiated the development of PAR cans,

but does anybody know when ?

[MarkPAman]

See A History of Lights & Lighting

 

PAR LAMP (SEALED BEAM LAMP) - (a 1940)

The PARABOLIC ALUMINIZED REFLECTOR (or PAR lamp) is a sealed beam type of lamp, similar to an automotive headlamp. The filament, reflector and lens are all optically aligned at the factory, and sealed into a single lamp - resulting in a highly efficient source. As the PAR lamp is a complete lighting unit, fixtures for them are very simple indeed. Today, PAR lamps are available in various diameters (4.5" to 8"), and various wattages (75-1000 w.) The highly efficient PAR64 lamp (8' lens) is extensively used by the theatre and entertainment industry and the fixtures are often referred to as 'PAR cans'.

The PAR lamp is also sometimes known in Europe as the 'pressed glass reflector lamp'.

There are some historical pictures showing one of the inventors, Dick Thayer, with prototype lamps made from "Pyrex" custard cups purchased from the local hardware store. That was in 1937. The first sealed beam automotive headlamps appeared on the 1940 model cars.

The author's research has also uncovered an early patent drawing of a sealed beam lamp dated Feb. 21, 1939. The drawing is numbered 2,148,314 and is signed Daniel K. Wright, Inventor. The lamp looks very similar to a modern PAR lamp. The lamp was thought to have been placed into production, shortly thereafter.

 

:)

[JPSTechie]

See the Wiki

[Bryson]

Note that MarkPAMan's quote refers to the lamp, not the lantern.

[andy_s]

some of the oblong, square ended early cans referred to in the wiki are still I believe to be found at the Hackney Empire. Don't know how old they are I'm afraid.

[Calder]

From Rank Strand Electric datasheet, 1977 The first Parcan lamps were 120V only.

 

Parblazer

A Lot of Light... Fast!

 

 

 

Parblazers are for a broad, even brash, effect with more than enough punch to indulge in strong, vibrant colour filters - not for carefully contrived lighting with subtle nuances. Parblazers are fast to rig and set because, apart from tilt and swivel lock, there is just one recessed knob to alter the orientation of the oval beam distribution.

 

The beam spread is determined by a choice of 1000W 120V PAR64 halogen lamp with it's sealed-in reflector to prevent depreciation by dirt and dust. The short, thick coiled-coil filament for 120 volt provides high luminous efficacy coupled with useful beam distribution and physical robustness. For 220/240v operation, two Parblazers can be connected in series - not inconvenient for this style of lighting. To speed and simplify this series interconnection an accessory pack of non-european plugs and series sockets is offered. The Parblazer is built to combine strength with low weight and protrusions are kept to the very minimum. The colour frame, supplied with each Parblazer, is of a brand new design to secure any non-flam colour filter at the edges.

 

 

 

BEAM SPREAD

FFP 1000W 120v PAR64 lamp, 3200°K, 300hr.

half peak angle 7° x 14° oval

tenth peak angle 14° x 26° oval Throw in metres 8 10 12 14

Spread in metres 1x2 1.2x2.5 1.5x3 1.7x3.4

Peak illumination, lux 5155 3300 2290 1680

 

FFR 1000W 120v PAR64 lamp, 3200°K, 300hr.

half peak angle 12° x 28° oval

tenth peak angle 21° x 44° oval Throw in metres 4 6 8 10

Spread in metres 0.8x2 1.3x3 1.7x4 2.1x5

Peak illumination, lux 7810 3470 1950 1250

[obsoperator]

I realize that you may have intended to ask only about development of PAR64 (as in 64 1/8ths of an imperial inch, of course) fixtures. But it's important to remember tha long before that, impoverished basement theaters mounted a porcelain medium screw socket in the bottom of (U.S. nomenclature for food-trade large size "tin can") a #10 can, and screwed in a PAR38 lamp. This was a bit dangerous, but very common.

[Stuart91]

mpoverished basement theaters mounted a porcelain medium screw socket in the bottom of (U.S. nomenclature for food-trade large size "tin can") a #10 can, and screwed in a PAR38 lamp.

 

I remember finding a bunch of lights in a church loft, which were built using similar principles, although in this case they used WW2-era ration tins :)

[Don Allen]

From Concert Lighting Techniques, Art and Business James L Moody second edition page 98 " The PAR-64 as we know it is a modification of the Cine-Queen fixture introduced in the early 1960's by BerkleyColortran, Inc. (figure 10-6). Chip Monk first used PAR-64 lamps in a concert, but the color did not hold up. It was the addition of a long snoot to hold color far enough out in front of the lamp so it would not burn that made it work for concert lighting."