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Atlas Starter/Ballast Lamp for 40W T12 Fluorescent Tube

Here is an Atlas starter/ballast lamp for a 4ft 40W fluorescent tube. Unfortunately the wrapper has suffered a bit over the years but the lamp is in excellent condition. I have no way of testing it at the moment, though. The date code is C8B if anyone can help with dating.
Keywords: Lamps

Atlas Starter/Ballast Lamp for 40W T12 Fluorescent Tube


Here is an Atlas starter/ballast lamp for a 4ft 40W fluorescent tube. Unfortunately the wrapper has suffered a bit over the years but the lamp is in excellent condition. I have no way of testing it at the moment, though. The date code is C8B if anyone can help with dating.

Westinghouse_Mazda_A-H1_400W_Medium_Pressure_Mercury_Lamp.jpg Westinghouse_450W_Clear_Self-Ballasted_Mercury_Lamp.jpg Atlas_Starter_Lamp_1.jpg 20191231_182414.jpg Siemens-Ediswan_240V_500W_MAT-V_Lamp_in_display_case.jpg
Lamp/Fixture Information
Manufacturer:Atlas Lighting
Model Reference:BC 2520
Lamp
Lamp Type:Incandescent
Filament/Radiator Type:Tungsten filament
Base:4-pin starter base
Shape/Finish:Pear shaped, pearl finish
Burning Position:Universal
Physical/Production
Factory Location:England
Fabrication Date:Unknown (Date code C8B)
Application/Use:Starter/ballast for 4ft 40W fluorescent tube
File information
Filename:Atlas_Starter_Lamp_1.jpg
Album name:Ria / Miscellaneous
Keywords:Lamps
Filesize:1307 KiB
Date added:30 Jun 2025
Dimensions:2245 x 1588 pixels
Displayed:9 times
URL:https://trad-lighting.net/gallery/displayimage.php?pid=901
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Comment 1 to 7 of 7
Page: 1

Tuopeek   [Fri 04 Jul 2025 at 17:56]
Remember seeing these in use in fittings, but never found one to play with. I'm sure you could wire that up. All you need is a 40 fluorescent and some croc-clips Very Happy
Max   [Sat 05 Jul 2025 at 09:34]
Interesting device! Does it contain any components (capacitors, etc) in the end cap?
Ria   [Sat 05 Jul 2025 at 11:20]
Not sure, I have no intention of trying to open it..! I think it must have a starter switch of some description, but I have no idea how it's supposed to work. It was used in a specific design of Atlas fixture, but I've never found one of those to check out.
Max   [Sat 05 Jul 2025 at 12:36]
Maybe there are some circuit diagrams of the device out there... I'm asking this because the cap shell looks pretty long to just be empty.
Ria   [Sat 05 Jul 2025 at 13:12]
Yeah, I'll have to see if I can find something. The tungsten lamp is a ballast, and it is called a starter, so there must be some form of starting device in there Wonder
AgentHalogen_87   [Sat 05 Jul 2025 at 21:37]
Looks like a similar base for the 2-lamp starters. They have 2 glow bottles in them, and each lamp is on one 'side' of the starter. It only goes in the holder one way. This might use the same socket, where the starter circuit (likely a glow bottle in the base) is on two of the pins, and the ballast lamp is on the other two.
It's a lovely little thing there!

See Mike's Gamma two lantern images for closeups of that rare 2-lamp starter
https://streetlightonline.co.uk/Lanterns/Gamma_Two_Photographs.htm
Ria   [Sun 06 Jul 2025 at 15:43]
It's the same base as the 4-pin thermal starter. I have a socket for it somewhere.

Comment 1 to 7 of 7
Page: 1