This is a 220V lamp and it does work, as do the others, but it's really dim, probably since it's on 120V instead of 240V. This doesn't even put out any useable light, it just glows. The brand is "Gleichstrom" and it apears that it uses 3.5W per the base etch shown but I don't know about that...
Oh wow! Thanks for dating it. It still works too! It sputters on 120v so i'm not going to run it except on 240V and I'm not even going to run it on that since i want to preserve this lamp!
@ Joe; yeah I'd guess something along the lines of that. I'm wondering if someone who may have owned the house at one point was deaf and maybe there were indicators to tell that maybe someone was at the door, or maybe the washer machine is done, or maybe a timer for the stove ran out of time, etc?
@ xmaslightguy; thanks. I thought this one was a little odd too. At first i thought this lamp just had a thicker filament because it was 240V.
This is some lamp!!!!!!!!!! Beehive neon or as the Germans say Bienenkorbglimmlampe very rare definitely German the spring was fitted to there cross church neons so the lamp could be turned to face the cross to the front why that was used here I do not know perhaps they had plenty in stock and just got used. These are discharge lamps and have 2 electrodes which ionize giving that red glow there is an Argon lamp which glows purple, very very rare lamp my You Tube has many neons same name used there
thanks guys! Wow i didn't realize how rare/vintage this lamp is! I knew it was old and looked like it came from accross the pond (turns out it's a German lamp eh?). What were these used for? they seem pretty pointless in terms of light output. were they just used for decorative lighting or something? you mentioned something about them lighting crosses in Germany migette1?
I wonder if these were used as an alternative to those 11w sign lamps used in store and theater marquee signs common during the first half of the 20th century.
These were used for nightlights, voltage regulators in radio, darkroom light if varnished red, as indicators, and other uses where a dim light was needed and was long lasting. They will after many hours dim due to evaporated metal ( swedish iron) leaving the electrodes and getting onto the glass. I am going to put that cross bulb up with that same base this may make it clearer. Hope this helps.
Sorry I missed that if it says 220v then that should be the correct voltage to work it on. On you tube there was someone whose neon was wrongly marked and it said 220 when tried it got hot but when put on 120v all was fine that was a German lamp. I am trying to upload that cross shape neon but with no luck so will ask a friend how its done my pc knowledge is nil
Ahh yeah it's rated for 3.5W @ 220V. Here he in the states we have 120 and 240V 60Hz though not 220V but a lot of products are labeled the wrong voltage like 110, 115, or 125 for 120V or 220V for 240V and what not...
well, i guess that's why the lamp was so dim and flickery. It did look a bit undedriven. I don't want to push 240V though it and have the lamp die though so it'll just be an awesome display piece for now. it has a loose metal ball that rolls around inside that fits in the tip. is that mercury? is it supposed to vaporize because it doesn't on 120V...
That is mercury and will remain in that state during use the purpose is to aid starting and efficiency. I have known some that will not strike in the dark but will when in light. If you try it on your 240v why not run in series with a 40w bulb to control the current.
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Weird but awesome find!
@ xmaslightguy; thanks. I thought this one was a little odd too. At first i thought this lamp just had a thicker filament because it was 240V.
well, i guess that's why the lamp was so dim and flickery. It did look a bit undedriven. I don't want to push 240V though it and have the lamp die though so it'll just be an awesome display piece for now.