Patt23 (S0001)

This is a really commun light in the UK. It's a small 250/500W profile, from ADB/Strand.    

Here is my first acquisition (on a flea market), it’s a fixture marked “ADB”. This was manufactured by ADB with a licence from Strand.  

It’s a small profile, from around 1953 (this was the date Strand Electric presented this product). I have no idea about the date when ADB started selling this item.  A few opticals were available for this fixture (always with fixed angle). In this case, it’s a 11° lens tube. Unfortunately, the lens is missing.  

The body is made in moulded aluminum, and the lens assembly in spinned aluminum and folded steel.

It was widely available, as it’s was the first light made by large quantity, it was manufactured by 5000 unites (by Strand), in a time when 144 unites was considered as a large batch already.  

The optical system is quite simple: there is an ellipsoidal reflector behind the lamp, a ring shaped reflector on front of it, and a single 150mm plan-convex lens (6 inches in diameter, and 9 inches for the focal point).    

It was possible to change the shape of the beam with pre-cut plates. Four plates were supplied with the fixture: one with a square openning, and three with different diametre circular holes. An iris was also available for this fixture.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any of those accessories. I have a similar lantern with a set of shape plates (Furse profile BE-OG-S0033)  The cast iron base is the original base for this fixture.  

Notes:

• I replaced the original P28s lamp holder by a E27 one.
• The lens for the optical is missing, as well as the lens retaining ring.    

Sources of information:  The Backstage Heritage