Willis Lamm's
Traffic Signal Collection

(And Street Lights Too)

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  General Electric (GE)
Novalux Form 6 Street Light
With No. 87 Light Carrara Globe

GE's Novalux Form 6 was one of GE's first high output pendant type incandescent luminaires that used glass refractors for light diffusion. GE offered five refractor options in the late teens through the 1920s that appeared in their product reviews. (The luminaire at the top of the chart is a luminous arc lamp. The remaining five are incandescent lamps.)

The Form 6 had a cast iron cover and a long body made of thin copper. The body originally held a 6.6 amp isolation autotransformer that would keep the high voltage series circuit alive when a lamp failed.

The model having a No. 87 "light carrara" globe appeared in trade journals in 1915.

As the body of the lamp was metal, it was suspended by means of an insulator so that the span wire would not become energized in the event any internal wiring touched the metal body. When mounted to metal poles, the suspension system often included additional insulating components.

This lamp is the oldest one in the collection, having likely originally been installed between 1915 and 1920.

During this period, "milk glass" style globes were most common. More efficient prismatic type refracting globes came out in 1917. The practical application of more "focused" light produced a trend toward refracting and "ripple glass" diffusing type globes, similar to those still in service in the later 20th century.

Original "bishop's crook"
bracket arm.

This lamp is the only one in the collection having an original light carrara "milk glass" globe.

This particular lamp was still in service as late as the 1940s in Rockford, IL.

  Components of the Luminaire

Note: These diagrams are from Westinghouse, but the Form 6 details are very simmilar.

An interesting aspect of this early Form 6 was that in order to attach it to the bishop's crook, GE fit a Form 46 head that contained a hook instead of a socket into to the bracket hood. The Form 46 head was designed for either open or internal wiring so the luminaire could be supplied by wiring that was supplied through a steel pole if open (exposed) wiring was not desired.
Top view of the Form 46 head.
Inside view of the Form 46 head.
Form 46 head fit to the bishop's crook.
Intermediate suspension hanger with
crossarm, spool insulators and hanger hook.
Suspension hanger hangs from the Form 46 head.
The crossarm keeps wires from rubbing on the metal bracket.
Cast iron crown piece with suspension insulator and
insulated binding posts. The original cotter key used for
the suspension insulator has been replaced with a steel pin.
Internal view showing adjustable socket.
This lamp originally contained an autotransformer
That was located between the socket and the crown.
Copper body with twist-lock tabs.
Body fit to the crown piece.
20-inch reflector hood.
Hood attached using set screws (hidden under the globe.)
No. 87 light carrara globe.
Final assembly for testing.

Testing before installation outdoors.

Installed, testing the circuit.

Night view.


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Pittsburgh Transformer Co. "Type A" Street Light


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