Here is some information about Sylvania lighting fixtures during the 1940s.

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4263718;view=1up;seq=21

Oh this is really neat.

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015067176621;view=1up;seq=9


Everything you wanted to know about fluorescent lighting but did not know who to ask.

http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015007202271;view=1up;seq=16



I have a extensive 317 page McGraw Hill Fluorescent lighting book from 1946 that I would like to put on line but not sure how to do it or if there would be any copyright problems from doing it.

Also from what I can tell from the above book is that GE pioneered fluorescent lighting in the late 1930s and set most of the standards and then everyone else just tagged along later with their fluorescent equipment.

The two new GE 40 watt T12 bulbs kitchen and bath bulbs I bought at Target today fit my 1940 Mitchell Fleur- O - Ray perfect and works just fine. A real proof to me of the good work of the GE engineering department in the late 1930s. My hats off to them.    

BTW this fixture is installed in the master bath and looks great.

Here are some T12 bulb holders that can come in handy.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/118130405/vintage-fluorescent-light-brackets-found?ref=sr_gallery_6&ga_search_query=fluorescent+light&ga_ship_to=US&ga_ref=auto3&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery

36 inch 65 watt T17 tube!  drooool!
60 inch 100 watt T17 tube!  Also DROOOOOL!
Interesting book for sure!!!

36 inch 65 watt T17 tube!   drooool!
60 inch 100 watt T17 tube!  Also DROOOOOL!
Interesting book for sure!!!

My March 1941 GE catalog describes the following information:

65 watt, 36 inches long, 2 !/8 inch diameter, T17,
1.35 amps, lamp volts 50,
Rated life 2000 hours.
Lumens 65 watt: White 2100, Daylight 1800.


100 watt, 60 inches, 2 1/8 diameter, T17,
1.45 amps, Lamp volts 72,
Lamp life 2000 hours.
Lumens 100 watt: White 4200, Daylight 3350.

From the chart it looks like the reason that the 65 watt T17 was discontinued early on was that for just a small increase in amperage (only .10 amp) of the 100 watt bulb there was a large increase of lumens by using the 100 watt bulb.
From 2100 lumens for the 65 watt to 4200 lumens for the 100 watt for a small increase in bulb current.

On the 1941 efficiency chart, the 36 inch 65 watt T17 bulb came out really low.
I would say that any that might still exist would be ultra rare.  

I find it interesting that for the T17 size tube, 60 inches long was found to be the best balance between power input and light output for the largest size bulb at the time.

The four foot 40 watt T12 came out the overall best for watts consumed and light output obtained.
I find it interesting that all these bulb sizes were not just picked at random, but were shown to be the best compromise between watts consumed and light output obtained.

All this was figured out before 1939 by GE.

You can kind of see why the 100 watt T17 when reduced to 90 watts became more in line with the four foot 40 watt as far as efficiency goes.


In the 1942 fluorescent lighting book there is a picture of two people looking at a test board. On the table there is a book. I blew up the picture and to my surprise it is the very same 1941 GE fluorescent lighting catalog I have right here on my computer table.