Over eighty of the objects within the Kodak Heritage Collection are light globes (also known as bulbs or lamps) that were used in photography. These interesting, but fragile, objects can be split into three main groups: electric lamps, flash bulbs and projector lamps.

Electric lamps account for the majority of the objects within this group and were mainly used for studio light sources, eg flood lights and spot lights. These include the Australian made 'high efficiency' globes manufactured by Philips and the 'Quartzline' globes manufactured by General Electric Company.

Flash bulbs were smaller light globes that could be put into flash units on or connected to cameras in low light conditions to provide illumination for the picture. These globes were were mostly for single use and include the Philips 'Photoflux' bulbs and Sylvania flash cube.

Projector lamps were used as the light source inside 35mm slide or moving footage projector equipment. These include those produced by Siemens Ediswan, Osram and Atlas Lighting companies.

Each of these types of globe were designed for a specific purpose and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, colours, wattage and base fittings. For example, many of the Philips electric lamps within the collection have a double contact bayonet base whereas the flash bulbs that Philips produced have a screw base and were often made of blue glass.

The collection is also an invaluable record of the many globe making companies, including those that have gone out of business or moved on to other products. Some of the less familiar brands include Atlas Lighting and Crompton Parkinson Limited, whilst brands such as Philips, Sylvania and the General Electric Company (GEC) feature heavily within the collection.

Made of glass with a metal filament and base, often still in their original packaging, these objects are beautiful to look at but fragile to handle, and are carefully stored to ensure their ongoing preservation as an important example of photographic technology.

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