Thread: MES bulb repair
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Dave W[_2_] Dave W[_2_] is offline
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Default MES bulb repair

On Thu, 11 Jul 2019 22:16:16 +0100, Graeme
wrote:

In message , Fredxx
writes
On 11/07/2019 19:44, Graeme wrote:
I need a 12 - 14v MES dimple bulb.


What's a 'dimple bulb'? Do you mean one with a lens? In which case an
LED bulb would be a good alternative.


Thanks all, for the suggestions. A dimple bulb has a dimple in the top
of the bulb. I should have explained - as said, common in the US, but
not here :-)

Why? Remember the aquarium pump thread a couple of weeks ago? This is
all about a Marx toy beacon tower which uses a dimple bulb on top of
which balances a lightweight beacon with red and green lenses. Vanes in
the top of the beacon, the idea being that the heat from the bulb rises
through the vanes, causing the beacon to rotate, balanced in the bulb
dimple. Great idea but it rarely works so a friend had the idea of
using an aquarium pump to direct a jet of air through the vanes. It
works perfectly, but just as I got mine going, the poxy bulb blew! I
suppose the bulb must be 60 years old, so shouldn't really complain.


This reminds me of my old elctric fire that has vanes balanced on
gramophone needles over red 'Fireglow' 60W bulbs under a coal-effect
top. When the vanes rotate it gives the effect of flames in the coals.

The trouble is, the vanes have glass cetres with a conical well that
balances on the points. This works fine initially, but eventually the
glass loses its shine owing to being worn by the needles, and the
vanes will not keep going even if I sharpen the needles.

Your dimpled bulb was probably worn down by the point on the rotating
vane, which is why it wouldn't work very well.

Your new LED arrangement will probably need a dimple made of glass
rather than rough plastic.
--
Dave W