Strand Quartet

[Dantheman]

Hi All,

I help out at a local theatre in N. Ireland and we seem to be having trouble with the bulbs in the Strand Quartet. We have to be very easy on the focus slide if we don't want the bulb to blow. Heavy handed touring groups have been giving us headaches with having to buy new bulbs. Anyone have any ideas how we could correct this? Is it the lantern or could it be the bulbs thenselves?

Thanks

Dan

[boatman]

It could be either. Firstly make sure you are purchasing 240V lamps and not 230V as the latter have a considerably shorter lifetime in 240V fittings. In my experience Philips T25 or T26 seem to give the longest service but YMMV. The second cause could be sticky focus slides in the lantern. If there is any vibration of the lamp when focussing the life will be shortened considerably, so you may need to dismantle the lanterns and lubricate the slides. Do not use any product containing oil or grease for this but either graphite powder (obtainable here) or a 4B pencil.

 

HTH

[Ynot]

Check the lamp sockets - this type of fitting is prone to corrosion. Our Preludes (basically the same socket) are rife with corroded sockets, which then cause corrosion in the lamp pins (even using new bubbles in the older sockets.

 

Also take care to NOT jolt the lanterns just after they've been switched off. They're much more likely to blow after being rattled around whilst they're cooling.

[Andrew C]

It may be blindingly obvious to you, but don't focus at full. Just bright enough to see clearly what you're doing, then wind it up to check once you've done.

[paulears]

Ham-fistedness is the cause here, Quartets don't stick more than others, but it's quite normal for the slide to be a bit stiff when they are hot, and if somebody heaves on the knob, when it releases, the lamp blows. To be honest, I've always put it down as just one of those things!

[richard_cooper]

Quartets don't stick more than others,

 

I mostly agree, but I've got a batch that were purchased a few years after the bulk of our stock that had a washer between the focus knob and the case that would stick solid, you had to get a screw driver under it to pry it away from the casework before you could move the tray. Removing this washer does not seem to be a problem. Worth a check, if the OP's Quartets are like these then maybe users are pushing until the washer comes unstuck which will almost cirtainly take out the lamp.

[Trunker]

Quartets don't stick more than others,

 

I mostly agree, but I've got a batch that were purchased a few years after the bulk of our stock that had a washer between the focus knob and the case that would stick solid, you had to get a screw driver under it to pry it away from the casework before you could move the tray. Removing this washer does not seem to be a problem. Worth a check, if the OP's Quartets are like these then maybe users are pushing until the washer comes unstuck which will almost cirtainly take out the lamp.

 

I had one client whos Quartets had the washer sticking problem and they went through a lamp. Easy to sort out, but possibly another Strand design error?

[Dantheman]

Thanks everyone.

Will try the graphite lub and see if that helps.

Dan