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I fondly remember these lights as a kid, and the pleasant fragrance the burning carbon rods gave off as they were consumed. It was probably unwise to stare at the arc, but I'd stand a couple feet in front of the reflector, and observe the incredibly bright light it emitted. Thanks for the demonstration.

My carbon arc story is that as an apprentice in the printing industry, we used them for exposing photographic plates. We had a bathtub-like reflector with 4 pairs of rods and if you turned it on and one of the pairs didn't 'strike', my boss said to "Put one hand behind your back so you don't get electrocuted and tap the back end of the rod with your finger". That would make it catch. Did that for 2 years, also lit cigarettes from the end of the rod just after turning off while it was still glowing. There was no shield, it just looked like a half size enamel bathtub on it's side and the rods stuck out above and below with a huge transformer underneath. The "Good Old Days" that almost killed me.

Dang, I wish I could get one of these in Europe... 😅 Great stuff!

Awesome. Thanks

Good explanation!! Thanks a Lot! This carbon arc was used in Cinema too a many years ago, this a Hi-Tech , after Xenon, now a think the Hi-Tech LED contemporaneous.

A peak into old Hollywood ; thanks from old New Orleans 😎

Any reason you generate 120V DC and bring it down to 70 DC with resistors instead of having 70DC generator?

That thing looks as if it as if it would last forever, 100% NOT made in China

Who else just clicked for the wierd econoline in the background?

AWESOME !!! Thanks for the lesson. Amazing machine.😊

Does anybody know what this was shot on? Or who shot this? It looks phenomenal.

I would like to see the blooper reel.

We didn't have that but had an arc spotlight in college. They only let this one certain senior run it. And like here, he always wore gloves. Looking back on it, I think they chose him because he was expendable.

Once upon a time, I was a projectionist at our local theater. Carbon arc projectors. Selenium rectifier stacks fed by three phase 208 volt AC. Two projectors and the movie was on rolls of film about 20 minutes per roll. If I had everything going good, I'd have 10 minutes or so every now and then when I would sit by an open window on a short stool and yell at my friends who were out dragging main street. A couple (several?) times I snuck my girlfriend into the booth and we would make out 😜😋❤ (poor girl...I really liked her a LOT, but she not so much. She's been divorced a couple times and I've been married once and I treat my only wife like the prized jewel that she is). But I had to be real quick on my projector changes so that we wouldn't get caught. One night the bouncer/usher lady, who was a good friend, she came up into the booth and caught us red handed!! She told me to get my girl out quick because the owner was coming up to chat about my schedule!! AHHHHHHH....such good memories!!

2:28 probably not a variac if it's dc. Probably a variable resistor.

The carbon always knows where it is, by knowing where it isnt.

Very nice ! I’ve got a couple of 2k I think ! M&R lights on tripods here in Scotland 😅 love to get them working for use

My mom was friends with Ceil Mole when she was a kid in Hollywood. They lived in the Sunset Tower.

Great video!

Mister Lahey???

Awesome .What is the run time of the carbon electrodes .How many hours can you get on a fresh set of carbon rods

Is this American Jim Lahey?

This video is a piece of history. I'm glad I stumbled on it

I am used to seeing the antiaircraft spotlights being used to promote new businesses in the 70s and 80s. Those were some large carbon arc lights! With enough power to disorient pilots on bombing runs. Same principles as your stage lights, just a bigger mirror and set of rods.

Ok. Its 3:10 a.m. here in Alabama. I have no idea why this video was recommended. But it was cool. I learned about something that I had never considered. But im still not sleepy and some normal people actually consider this time to get up and make breakfast.

thank for sharing . it was very nice learn so much

Is there a UV filter on the front of that thing?

Wow! VERY cool!!

Beautyfull!!❤❤

You don't use cables as a Handle to Rotate or Pivot this unit, as there are clearly marked Handles for this purpose. This is what happens as people age they become de-qualified to operate (safely)...

i clicked on this because i thought it was lahey

From Randy in Chattanooga, Tennessee: I have operated the Strong Futura series lamp houses, and I loved them. I have also operated the old Peerless Magnarc lamp houses with the old lamp type rectifiers. Ran across your channel by accident, but now I’m about to be a subscriber. Keep up the good work.

wow

Lovely Econoline my goodness

Wished he had shown the carbon rods new....how do you change them out ? How long do they last ? I am a welder and very familiar with carbon arc gouging

Beautiful. 👍🏻

1:43 That is a huge safety mistake. Work on any electrical device is only to be undertaken after it is isolated from mains voltage. First you play around the insides, then you plug it in. Always. No matter what it is.

This is the Limelight...

It always amazes me how great the minds of some people can be in inventing things like these lights.

I remember using CA super troopers even as late as the early 2000s. Nothing could touch them on big outdoor festivals, especially during the lighter hours. Wouldn't surprise me if there's still some kicking about...

Those cables are marked red and white for a reason. You obviously don't know what you are doing, or you would have known that. That is why you got the polarity wrong. Good thing this old military spotlight has all those safety features. You probably would have killed yourself.

I'm digging the dual axel ford econoline... thats rad

Nice one bud

cool beans

Your Granddad Was Awesome 😀😊😇

Looks like a projector at a movie house back in the 70’s and before ?

So much for a nice close-up, your camera operator is an idiot.

Very Cool!

Very interesting info. Thanks

Carbon ark was used for many things. Searchlights, Lighthouses. Carbon arke was even used in welding. Which, I once used. Poorley, I have to admit. It wasn't easy to manage the carbon rods and the welding rods at the same time. And the heat that it produced was unbearable. Thanks, Grandfather.