Willis Lamm's Traffic Signal Collection (And Street Lights Too) Clicking on a picture will bring up a larger view in a new window.   Line Material (L-M) "Ovalite" Street Light

Mercury vapor street lighting first appeared in the mid 1930s however the concept really took hold around 1948 when street light manufacturers seriously marketed mercury vapor lighting. A 400 watt MV light would produce more illumination than a 500 watt incandescent lamp so these lights were a good investment for use on larger streets. Line Material's light was called the "Ovalite." The early MV lights had remote ballasts, as seen on the pole on this lamp installed in Winnemucca, NV. By the 1960s most MV street lights were "cobra head" design with ballasts located in the heads.

Components and Installation

Inside view. Holophane 45E refractor. Installing the lamp.

Line Material's LM in triangle in circle logo. Line Material logo on refractor. In service in the collection.