|
|
|
|
|
|
| Another attempt to solve the burnt out lamp problem in series wired sets came to us from Japan. Patented in 1930, the XL lamps contained a shunt device that allowed the rest of the light string to remain lighted should one or more lamps burn out. While the invention worked to keep the string lit, it was not successful from a practical point of view. When a bulb failed, the remaining seven on the string would receive considerably higher voltage, shortening their life. If the failed lamp was not replaced quickly, the stress on the remaining lamps soon took its toll. Genuine XL lamps are so marked on the glass envelope at the base of the bulb. There were also regular lamps made with the distinctive heavy embossed flame design, but they do not say XL on them. The Reliance company distributed all of the XL light sets, although their name is seldom found on the boxes. Incidentally, the "XL" nomenclature referred to the lamps having "Xtra Life", as some of them were rated at 16 volts instead of the more common 14 or 15. Operation on normal household current of 110 volts resulted in the lamps lasting just a bit longer. | ||
|
Inside and outside views of the 1930 edition of the XL lighting set. |
|
|
|
A close up picture of the lamps, showing their distinctive embossed flame pattern. |
|
|
|
Inside and outside views of a circa 1935 XL outfit. |
|
|
|
The hard to find XL Candles set was first offered in 1934, two years before General Electric offered their own version of candle lamps. These bulbs also have the XL shunting device as described above. |
|
|
| This new addition to the collection is branded as Everlite, but is also actually made by the Reliance Company. Although the set uses the XL lamps, there is no mention of that nomenclature anywhere on the box. The directions specify that Everlite replacement lamps must be used, so it is safe to assume that the XL lamps were also packaged and sold as Everlite brand. Circa 1938. |
|
|
| Here is an offering from NOMA, this time under the Stay-Brite brand name. Although the box says the outfit is made in the USA, it also states that the the set is equipped with Japanese lamps. Circa 1938. |
|
|
|
The lamps have tungsten filaments, and are a bit smaller than a standard C-6 Christmas bulb. The connectors are rubber covered, and are stamped in white print with the General Electric "meatball" style logo and the words: "Mazda Lamp". The set has an American plug, and runs at proper brightness on 120 volts. Chris does not have the original box, so no information can be had from that source. Chris was recently contacted by a gentleman researching Christmas lights for a forthcoming Smithsonian exhibit. It seems that these lights are a 1937 attempt by General Electric to produce a "disposable" light string! Since the lamps are permanently wired together in each series festoon, when one fails, the entire festoon is then useless. It was intended to simply be tossed away, and a new string plugged into the junction box in its place. The junction box itself appears quite similar to one used in the 1936 model Desoto automobiles. It is apparent that General Electric never produced this experimental set in any great number, as so far, only three of these sets are known to exist. |
|
Note: OldChristmasTreeLights? and FamilyChristmasOnline? are trademarks of Breakthrough Communications? (www.btcomm.com).
|
 | ||||||
| Visit our affiliated sites: | ||||||
| - Christmas Memories and Collectibles - | ||||||
 |
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| - Family Activities and Crafts - | ||||||
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| - Music - | ||||||
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
| - Trains and Hobbies - | ||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |  |
|
|
|
|  |
|
|
|
