Hollophane Light Fixture?

Question

I just bought a hollophane light fixture for my kitchen that is dated 1912. It has an adapter that I can use a regular light that screws out but what kind of light bulb would I use if I wanted to use the original socket?

This socket is bigger than the one that takes the adapter. I think that using a bigger bulb would give me maximum lighting in my kitchen.

Answer 1

What you may have is an old industrial type light fixture (Holophane manufactured lights for factories back when incandescent lamps were still used, before fluorescent and HID lighting that is used now.) These units used 200, 300 or even 500 watt lamps. If that is the case, if it is a threaded screw-base it may be what is called "mogul" rather than "medium" base (a standard light bulb is "medium.") You may still be able to get a mogul base incandescent lamp at an electrical supply house (like Graybar or AllPhase or even some large building centers like Lowes or Home Depot. Make certain it is incandescent and NOT an HID lamp. I would not use higher than a 250 watt (if you can find it.) You might be better off sticking with the adapter and using a 90 or 100 watt halogen-type or a 200 watt frosted regular medium base bulb.

Answer 2

The size (physical size that is) has nothing to do with light output. You need to look at Wattage to get an idea of light output. If you want more light try a higher Watt bulb, like 100. Be careful though, higher wattage bulbs get much hotter and may damage/burn fixtures. If it has a low wattage/light output bulb in it now try to gradually increase the bulb, stopping when it gets too hot for the fixture.

As for the socket...Good Luck I can't think of anywhere that would sell a bulb for a 94 year old light.