Hanau Mercury Bulb

[bc30se]

Guys, I managed to grab what seems to be pretty unusual stuff.

The problem is, I would like to light it I found a film showing how it works but I don't know a thing how to wire it properly and what voltage should be used on it. There are free wires coming out of it.

The guy here lights it by tilting, I can make a sort of a holder for it.

It would be great to get a complete set but I think I should be happy with what I have, once I connect it problerly and it works, I will somehow make a nice old-fashioned stand for it.

What should be the minimal time of glowing? I suppose I cannot switch it on and off rapidly, is the light dangerous itself?

 

[mike 109444]

BC30SE I use to work repairing kit that used mercury vapor lamps. They had if I recall a ballast unit to "fire" the lamp. This would then vaporizer the mercury inside the lamp which previously had just been small blobs in the lamp. The Kit I worked on was for microfilm and the lamps UV output was used to expose the film (diazo). So be aware
1) The lamp will put out UV probable lots !
2) Mercury is VERY poisonous.
3) High voltage is dangerous ! You will probable need a HV unit to fire it.
If you break the lamp you can be in a whole heap of problems cleaning up the mercury. I once heard on the radio of a family that had a decorative mercury filled wall thermometer which got dropped. They then proceeded to vacuum up the broken glass (and mercury). The mercury became fine droplets as it traveled into the vacuum and then passed through the vacuum bag and into the room, spraying mercury vapor/droplets into the house. If I recall they all suffered mercury poising.
TAKE GREAT CARE.

 

[awemawson]

And every CFL light bulb has a drop of mercury in it - how 'green' they are !

Back in the 1950's as a kid we had a mercury vapour 'sun ray lamp' - my brothers and I were lined up once or twice a week armed with suitable eye protection and grilled for a few minutes to top up our vitamin D ! In later years I had it and used it to expose PCB artwork making various electronic things - no idea what happened to it. There was an igniter button on it's rear - pressing it struck up quite a vicious arc to vapourise the mercury, and when you let go it continued discharging.

 

[Rocketman]

It's surely just a old type of mercury vapour lamp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mercury-vapor_lamp

Which is in principle very similar to metal halide or sodium.

Nothing particularly exciting really and probably way past it's best. Not trying to put a downer on it but can't see any real point in using it.

 

[bc30se]

Thanks for your input...

Perhaps 3 quids was not so bad - just for decorative use I know what mercury is, I just wonder if I could make a stylish lamp to please my eye (and not looking directly into it)...