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CONTRIBUTOR'S PAGES: JOSEPH S. PILLITERI |
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The main focus of my collection is the Miniature lights made from the 1960's to the 1980's, when light sets used plastic as the main material. Reflector lights with "petal" style reflectors were popular during this period. These sets were discontinued in the late 1980's because they could not meet the more stringent safety standards that had been imposed by Underwriters Labs. The outfits had miniature bulbs surrounded by a plastic reflector which made the bulbs appear brighter. The "petals" of the reflectors acted like tiny lenses to magnify the light. These sets mostly used 6 Volt bulbs, brighter than the 2.5 volt bulbs used today. The big problem with these lights was that the reflectors were very fragile - don't let the set lay on the floor while putting the lights up or else - CRUNCH !!! - #*&# - I stepped on another bulb! |
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| A Typical package of miniature
bulbs with reflectors from the 1970's |
Two basic designs of reflectors
were used. An integrated reflector with wedge base, and a collar style that slipped over the socket. |
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15 light "Yuletide Bulbs" set Circa 1970 |
40 light reflector set from the late 1980's |
(Click on the thumbnail to view the large image)
| A 100 light 5 way flasher set "Liberty Bell" brand from the late 1980's. It was sold at Channel Home Centers a now-defunct home improvement chain headquartered in the Northeast U.S.A. |  |
| A wallpaper sized image of the
above set lit up. To use it, right-click the full size image then choose "set as wallpaper". |
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| A 50 light 5 way flasher set made
in Taiwan, circa 1977. This set used 12 volt bulbs- the brightest of all the mini bulbs. You need sunglasses when you plug this set in! I found this one over the summer of 2002 at a flea market in Pennsylvania's Delaware Water Gap. It is in a mint box and has never been used. |
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Next up - General Electric light sets and bulbs
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