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What is the correct terminology Bulb or Lamp?


godboy

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From what I got told there is a shape called "bulbus", so lamps in this shape are bulbs but something like a CP62 not being that shape is a lamp.

 

 

Its the not all rectangles are squares and not squares are rectangles thing.

 

 

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Since I move between home (bulbs), TV studios (bubbles) and theatres (lamps) I've always been curious about how these differences got started--and also been worried at the derision that using the wrong "in term" can bring from professional lighting folks. I can understand all three.
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I think people who insist on calling them lamps do so because they don't want to be called 'Bulbies'.

 

 

 

 

I've had an idea. One of my on-line suppliers of these items is called bltdirect, as in 'Bulbs, Lamps and Tubes', so I'd like to propose that henceforth said objects are called 'blts' to avoid any confusion. Unless you're in a sandwich shop.

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It must stem from the early days of gas lights and the invention of the electric light.

 

When it was gas (I assume) they were known as lamps. When electric came along, the gauze was replaced by something 'bulb' or 'bubble' shaped that was replaced as a unit.

As I understand it - and it does seem to make sense :blink: - the lamp is the part of a fixture (or lantern) that contains the lightsource unit, namely the connection to the supply (somekind of connector), the base (often ceramic), the glass bubble and the filament (or equivalent). The bubble became known as a bulb due to it's shape, similar to that which is planted in the ground.

 

In days of gas you replaced the gauze, a component of the lamp, rather than the whole lamp. With electric you don't replace an individual component but pretty well the entire lamp, bar the socket that supports it.

 

I may be a mile off the mark, but that's my interpretation based on hearsay, fact and figuring it out! :D

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P.S. Gaz never heard anyone call them bubbles.

 

In the tv/ film industry where I work most of the time they are known as bubbles

 

If I work a theatre they are known as lamps and I get some confused looks when I ask for a bubble ** laughs out loud ** guess that that's because your Known as a lampie then if I do installation work for the general public then they refur to them as bulbs

 

As stated earlier as long as you know what your refuring too that's all that matters

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Ooh, don't you just hate it when people use the wrong terminology? Makes ones blood boil.

the gauze was replaced by
Gauze, schmauze!

Mantle, Simon, gas mantle, now off you go and don't do it again. ;)

 

 

:oops: *hangs head in shame* I feel a right prat now! You are of course absolutley correct :thumbup:

 

I won't edit my original post as that will cause more confusion :** laughs out loud **:

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Let's not get started on fixture vs lantern vs luminaire

 

 

 

Since you started it ... the following is my own interpretation and opinion;

 

Fixture - tends to be something that moves or otherwise requires DMX

Lantern - tends to be a generic and requires a dimmer circuit

Luminaire - can be either, but more often generics....

 

 

 

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Why don't we agree to call them what the manufacturer puts on the boxes?

 

GE call them lamps

Philips call them lamps

 

I found a dealer called GBbulbs - they call them....... lamps.

 

I then lost the will to live.

 

 

Long live lamps!

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