Paterson U200118

[Peter Bugarchich]

Came across the Paterson dark room safe light. Any idea what kind if light bulb it takes? The base something between the candelabra and intermediate base ...

 

[tokam]

Hi Peter, I've just dived into my storage box to find my Patterson safelight. Looks the same as yours and it has a 15watt Philips bayonet bulb. Of course, mine is for 230 V mains power so you'll need need an equivalent 110 v bulb for your mains power supply.

Edited: It's a bayonet fitting, NOT Edison screw. (But who knows; I think the US used more screw in bulbs than the bayonet bulbs used in UK, Australia and NZ.)

A curious aside. When I started out in darkroom work in high school, 1973, and bought my first setup the recommended colour of safelight was AMBER, not RED. The shop I bought from said that red safelights were no longer suitable and they sold me an amber bulb which replaced the ceiling bulb in the laundry that was my first darkroom. Over the next 40 years I replaced that bulb several times but I have never used a red safelight. I picked up the Patterson unit along with a similar red Photax safelight about 10 years ago in a yard sale.

 

[Peter Bugarchich]

God bless! And I was looking for a threaded E type light bulb... these bayonets are readily available in any hardware store, anything from 7 to 25W, 110 of course. They also come in 12V version for automotive applications. I couldn't guess in a million years it was a bayonet type! Now I understand the purpose of that crescent moon shaped brass piece inside the socket As for safe light, I have been using red since mid 80s with no issues. I heard that amber is a new thing, but never really tried one. It's probably more comfortable to look at. After a while the red gives me a headache.
Thanks again

 

[MattKing]

I heard that amber is a new thing

Welcome to Photrio.
Amber was "in" as of when I started, over half a century ago.
It matches the dip in sensitivity of modern variable contrast papers.
It can be more pleasant to work in. Things do seem brighter in a darkroom illuminated by amber safelight.
But red still works.
I'm using a red LED rope light now. Its well distributed light is considerably brighter than my previous amber (Kodak OC) safelights.