Jump to content

Streetlight?


MikeDennis

Recommended Posts

Hi guys,

 

I'm about to embark on a theatre tour, for which I need to source a streetlight (ideally one that looks like an old victorian lamp), to be leant against, to be DMXable, light up and give a nice, warm glow and to be transportable (so, preferably, assembled and disassembled relatively easily). Does anybody know where I'd start looking? Are there any bespoke theatre lighting companies around? This is my first tour and I'm a noise boy so this isn't my specialist area really.

 

Thanks in advance for any help :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Something like this?

http://i76.photobucket.com/albums/j40/Ynot_01/LampPost1-1.jpg

 

As it is it's not REALLY leanable, as in leaning on a REAL lamp-post would be, but it may be a start for you.

Standard BC fitting in the head down to a 15A plug-top on a short flying lead from the base.

Oh - and it's now black, by the way.

You can see there are 2 uprights in the pic of different heights (though can't recall at the moment what those heights are...!)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I understood BC To stand for Bayonet Cap, rather than connector. Its the type of bulb/lamp with two prongs that stick out that you pop in the holder then turn a little and lok in place...

 

Im working with a victorian style lamp like this in the future, the hire company told me that the light will "light" up and give off a warm glow. They reccomended rigging a light with a warm coloured gel up above and shine it down onto the spot, where the light is going to be positioned. This is what I am goign to be doing.

 

Regards,

Andy

Link to comment
Share on other sites

They reccomended rigging a light with a warm coloured gel up above and shine it down onto the spot, where the light is going to be positioned.

 

He he, those guys in Hire Depts, bless em. ;-)

 

Of course, it's a often used solution - to supplement a practical light fitting with a stage light source from somewhere nearby. However, if you were really picky as an LD, you couldn't stand to see the result because of a number of "errors" in the scene including:

 

  • Light from slightly the wrong angle.
  • Incorrect shadows - in this case possibly the top of the lamp post.
  • Unrealistic highlights, again, if the top of the lamp post is lit by the stage source.

 

While supplementing a practical like this is a servicable solution, there is a reason why shows modify fittings to create the light source themselves - uprating the capacity of a table lamp, shade and all electrical components, for example. It's the only way to get realistic lighting from such a fitting.

 

But, in the magical world of theatre there is scope for artistic licence. For a start, the notion that a street lamp as pictured by Ynot produces a tight yellow straight down spot, that looks suspiciously like a Source Four :P

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought one from this company. Good build quality and tobust. you just need to supply a lamp and cable / plug.

 

Victorian Lantern

 

Incidently, these lamps are designed to be bolted into concrete bases etc and so have nice size fixing holes in the bottom. If you make a sturdy enough base and use something like M10 bolts - you would safely be able to lean against it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought one from this company. Good build quality and tobust. you just need to supply a lamp and cable / plug.

 

Victorian Lantern

 

Incidently, these lamps are designed to be bolted into concrete bases etc and so have nice size fixing holes in the bottom. If you make a sturdy enough base and use something like M10 bolts - you would safely be able to lean against it.

 

I was just thinking about that.... I'm no rigger, but could you not bolt it to a large steel square, large enough so the actor doing the 'leaning' is also stood (or bolted to keep them in the light :** laughs out loud **: ) on the sheet?

 

Take one heck of a 'lean' to knock that over :D

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I bought one from this company. Good build quality and tobust. you just need to supply a lamp and cable / plug.

 

Victorian Lantern

 

Incidently, these lamps are designed to be bolted into concrete bases etc and so have nice size fixing holes in the bottom. If you make a sturdy enough base and use something like M10 bolts - you would safely be able to lean against it.

 

I was just thinking about that.... I'm no rigger, but could you not bolt it to a large steel square, large enough so the actor doing the 'leaning' is also stood (or bolted to keep them in the light :** laughs out loud **: ) on the sheet?

 

Take one heck of a 'lean' to knock that over :D

 

I bought one from this company. Good build quality and tobust. you just need to supply a lamp and cable / plug.

 

Victorian Lantern

 

Incidently, these lamps are designed to be bolted into concrete bases etc and so have nice size fixing holes in the bottom. If you make a sturdy enough base and use something like M10 bolts - you would safely be able to lean against it.

 

I was just thinking about that.... I'm no rigger, but could you not bolt it to a large steel square, large enough so the actor doing the 'leaning' is also stood (or bolted to keep them in the light :** laughs out loud **: ) on the sheet?

 

Take one heck of a 'lean' to knock that over :D

 

 

Yup, thats excatly what I did. I made a square of MDF big enough for actor and lamp, bolted in from the bottom and countersunk the boltheads so it stood flat on the ground. Job done!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

We have placed cookies on your device to help make this website better. You can adjust your cookie settings, otherwise we'll assume you're okay to continue.