<VV> Drop Lights history

[Jay Maechtlen]

regarding longevity of bulbs-

We tend to forget that commercial power isn't exactly the same voltage 
everywhere.
If you happen to have a higher voltage at your house than some nominal, 
your bulbs will burn hotter and be less tolerant of abuse.
If your voltage is a bit lower, the bulbs will burn cooler, and probably 
last a lot longer?

I guess you could run your drop light off a variac, and drop the voltage 
just a tad.

Cheers
Jay

On 1/13/2014 9:09 AM, corvairduval at cox.net wrote:
> The term Drop Light is form waaay back in industrial settings. Same use as
> drop cord. The electrical box was mounted on a ceiling, and a rubber cord
> dropped from the box to the work area. These did not plug into receptacles,
> but were permanent wiring.
>
> These fixed length cords were later replaced with the reel mounted cords
> for even better use to feed portable lamps or receptacles.
>
> Some how the public adapted the terms to any portable light or receptacle,
> even if not permanently mounted to the ceiling.
>
> Now most people ask for an extension cord, but old timers still ask for a
> drop cord. Most everyone still uses drop light as the term.
>
> I would love to know what brand of Rough Service bulbs people have problems
> with, because except for welding splatter, mine have lasted for years in
> Collison Shop environments. We dropped them all the time. Mostly bought
> Phillips and Feit form the wagon pedlers. Waaay cheaper than those at Home
> Depot, etc.
>
> Bulb failure was never an issue, but getting that steel cage to point away
> from my eyes sure is. With a swivel hook, the cord determined the hanging
> position, with a fixed hook, you can never find the best location to hang
> it out of your eyes. Thermoplastic cord is the worst (SJT code), rubber is
> actually nice.
>
> Why keep an incandescent drop light? A 50 watt drop light hanging on my
> sink plumbing keeps my garage plumbing from freezing. Try that with an LED
> or fluorescent drop light! I do have some 100 watt Rough Service lamps
> still for really cold weather. These are NOT for use on a car or anywhere
> near your skin!
>
> Frank DuVal
>
> Original email:
> -----------------
> From:  wfcc at mediacombb.net
> Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2014 23:14:30 -0600 (CST)
> To: vairologist at cox.net, virtualvairs at corvair.org
> Subject: <VV> Drop Lights
>
>
> I don't know why they call them "Drop Lights"... You drop them and they
> don't Light....
>
>                                   Ed Lindsay
>
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-- 
Jay Maechtlen