Lamp Changer
West Point Lighthouse
Tous droits réservés.
| Nom de l'objet : | Lamp Changer |
| Catégorie de l'objet : | Tools and Equipment for Communication |
| Sous-catégorie de l'objet : | Visual Communication T and E |
| Matériaux : | Metal, iron, brass, glass |
| Numéro de catalogue : | WP.1983.016.012 |
| Numéro d'accession : | WP.1983.016.012 |
| Fabricant : | Dominion Lighthouse Depot, Prescott, Ontario |
| Description : | Upright metal lamp changer. This lamp changer resembles a microscope in its shape and size. Two glass tube bulbs at front, one above the other, housed in a black metal body. This precision instrument is similar to the one that was used at West Point Lighthouse. Said to be Prescott made. |
| Commentaires : | The lamp changer is an electrically operated device used to automatically position a new lamp at the exact optical focal center of the lens immediately upon failure of the lamp originally in service. This operation is repeated until the lamp changer's complement of lamps has been exhausted. The standard lamp changer holds a complement of four lamps. As long as a lamp is in service there is a flow of current through the low resistance, fast acting series coil which attracts the lamp changer's armature. Movement of the series relay armature opens the connected lamp changer coil circuit to ground, thus preventing operation of the lamp changer relay. However, upon failure of a lamp the flow of current in the series coil stops, permitting the high resistance lamp changer coil to be energized. When the lamp changer coil is energized, its armature movement rotates a ratchet until it positions a new lamp. This same movement causes the circuit of the lamp changer coil to be de-energized in much the same way as a door-bell mechanism. When a new lamp is positioned the series coil is energized and normal operation is resumed. These lamp changers were frequently used on buoys or other sites, which were not frequently tended. They were all tested and focused at the factory before shipment, but would be visually checked again when installed. The lamp changer and flasher mechanism (if used) would be returned to the depot every two years to be completely overhauled. They would probably operate longer, but it was felt it would be more expensive and difficult to remedy an outage than to have regular maintenance. The lamp changer shown here has only two lamps. It will use either 500 or 1000 watt bulbs. It is similar to the one used at West Point Lighthouse following automation in 1963. This lamp changer was Prescott made, meaning made at the Department of Marine and Fisheries-Dominion Lighthouse Depot in Prescott, Ontario, established in 1903. This depot made lenses and all related lighthouse keeping apparatus and supplied the D.O.T. (Department of Transportation) in Prince Edward Island and surrounding area. It was a center for experiments in illumination, light station equipment, and manufacturing. This source for lighthouse equipment would greatly reduce Canada's former dependence on foreign suppliers. Reference: Interview with Noel Palmer " retired, D.O.T. employee for 35 years |
| Hauteur : | 68.3 |
| Largeur : | 20 |
| Profondeur : | 24.5 |
| Établissement : |
West Point Lighthouse
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| Ville de l'établissement : | O'Leary |
| Province de l'établissement : | Prince Edward Island |
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