Modern

NEW METHOD FOR ILLUMINATING
LUMINESCENT MURALS
Fig. 6. A combination of incandescent lamps
and slimline give attraction panels greater attention
value when incandescent lamps are
flashed or dimmed for color and brightness
changes.
important area such as the candy counter.
It might well be used also as a continuous
element from the marquee through to the
foyer.
In decorative units slimlines operated
at high brightness improve the
effectiveness of edge lighted glass or plastic,
and by virtues of the smaller diameter
make possible lighter-appearing, less bulky
designs.
(A particularly useful lamp for creating
distinctive luminaires is the Circline.
Twelve inches in diameter, it offers innumerable
combinations with slimline
lamps. It also serves to light rhedallions,
signs and other decorative elements, and
can be used around spotlights to reduce
contrast with the ceiling. These uses are
in addition to applications in floor and
table portable lamps.
SLIMLINES ARE A "NATURAL"
Slimline lamps are a "natural" for marquees
and other lighted panels. Their high
efficiency and light output, and their easy
replacement are big advantages. Through
choice of three currents and light outputs,
the same basic design may be used in
downtown districts where 300 milliamperes
can help to meet high competition and in
suburban areas where 200 or 100 milliamperes
may be sufficient for a small
house. Slimline and incandescent lamps
may be combined iFig. 6) for brightness
and color changes to create additional attention
value.
Many other light sources are available
to aid you in "selling the show." For
example, spotlighting of poster panels, features
and decorations; down-lighting under
the marquee, in the foyer and auditorium;
border lighting for the curtain are but
a few of the jobs the PAR-38 and R-40
spot and flood lamps can do effectively
and simply. These lamps have a reflector
sealed inside the accurately formed bulb
so it will never tarnish.
Decorating auditoriums with fluorescent
paints and illuminating these murals with
ultra-violet blacklight, is finding ever increasing
applications in motion picture
houses. The softly glowing luminiscent
colors lend beauty to the decorations, and
combined with the low level illumination
create a pleasing and restful atmosphere.
While various improvements have been
made in fluorescent colors, the illumination
technique left much to be desired.
There was a need for U.V. lighting equipment
which is simple in installation, satisfactory
in operation and economical in
maintenance. The ultra-violet blacklight
units used in the past, did not fulfill these
requirements. They consisted of high intensity
mercury bulbs operating from
rather heavy transformers, which made
their installation cumbersome, and the
high percentage of lamp failures considerably
increased the cost of maintenance.
Very satisfactory lighting units have been
presented in the fluorescent type ultra-blue
lamps. The light source of these units is
a special fluorescent tube, which differs
from the ordinary fluorescent tube, in that
the radiation obtained is very high in ultraviolet.
This special U.V. tube also emits
some visible wliite light, therefore the clear
U.V. tube is placed in a channel housing
equipped on one side with a removable
blue U.V. filter glass, which eliminates
most of the visible white light.
The channel housing contains a reflector,
also the auxiliary for operating the
tube, and the ultra-blue lamp is completely
wired, ready for installation. The tubes
have a life of over 1,000 hours, and burned
out tubes can easily be replaced.
There also are available U.V. black tubes,
which consist of the clear U.V. tube, over
which a tubular purple U.V. glass filter
is sealed. Black tube can be used advantageously
where fluorescent fixtures already
are installed, but on new installations
the ultra blue lamps are preferable.
Mention should be made here of the
various attempts to do away with the U.V.
filter glass, by coating the clear tube with
a deep colored plastic. This has proven
unsatisfactory because, due to its organic
nature, the coloring gradually fades out,
ultimately leaving a clear tube behind.
Standard ultra-blue lamps are available
in 15-watt and 30-watt sizes. They operate
on 110-120-volt. 60-cycle alternating current,
but DC lamps also can be made. The
lamps are concealed in troughs built beneath
the murals. If the mural is less
than 6 ft. high, bottom illumination is
sufficient. For higher murals top and bottom
illumination is recommended, or the
lamps are placed in suitable coves.
Above. Mural in lounge of the State Theatre, Jersey City, N. J., pointed with Stroblite fluorescent
colors by Rau Studios and illuminated by Stroblite ultra-blue lamps. Below. Same mural photographed
in white light. Architect, John Eberson. Photos courtesy of Stroblite Co.
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