vintage NOS Sylvania F15T8-GO 15W T8 Gold blackender fluorescent tube

[@q3dev]

Amazing! How old is it? I see it probably still contains a cadmium filter

[@rafaf777]

i don’t know for sure, i think 1970s. what’s a cadmium filter? is it that’s causing the strange flicker like if it’s recorded in slow motion?

[@q3dev]

@rafaf777 no, the cadmium filter makes the tube yellow, without it the tube would emit more blue and green light, ruining the color. It is safe when the tube is intact, but causes cancer when inhaled or touched. Newer tubes (for example Philips) have a pale yellow color when turned off, that's because they use a different filter which is safer

[@rafaf777]

woah that’s interesting, i need to be very careful. thank you very much

[@q3dev]

@rafaf777 One tube is unlikely to cause any health hazards, but you don't break the lamps very often :)