Footlights

Wed, 25 Feb 2009, 09:31 am

karlae19 posts in thread

Hi all looking for some antique looking footlights that you would use in a theatre show. Ideally, I would like to find ones that have the antique shell design on the back that faces the audience, or just the simple circular tin shape. Any ideas on where to find these or even how to easily make them would be appreciated. Thanks,

Thread (19 posts)

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karlaeWed, 25 Feb 2009, 09:31 am

LogosWed, 25 Feb 2009, 03:25 pm

Many solutions.

I used some 4inch pvc plastic pipe cut diagonally. Not as pretty as the old fashioned shell ones but quite effective. For a production of 42nd Street I once did the designer created me an art deco flat sheet made out of 3mm ply that was screwed to the batten and painted with a nice 1930's art deco pattern. I believe there is a vac form company in Sydney that can create the old clam shell style things. This stuff was readily available in the UK when I was there there doesn't seem to be the call for it here. I'm sure someone else will buy in soon though and add ideas. I thought I was on the track of some 1930's style footlights I hoped to refurbish for my own use but the trail went cold as it often does. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

David AshtonWed, 25 Feb 2009, 10:31 pm

footlights

Get some coffee tins or tins from caterers,strawberry tins are good,then mount a lampholder on the base and tin snip out the shape of your shell and spray paint gold, easy way is to use festoon type lamps, but as lamps are in vulnerable area plug into rcd type circuit.

williamevansFri, 27 Feb 2009, 09:43 am

Opera Australia props store

Opera Australia props store in Melbourne have gold shell footlights for hire, call 9314 9518.

Walter PlingeFri, 27 Feb 2009, 01:45 pm

footlights

One thing I have seen which I thought was not a bad idea was some cheap wall mount plastic planter pots painted golden with birdies hidden in them, this worked quiet well and didn't look to bad either.

karlaeFri, 27 Feb 2009, 03:27 pm

Well all I can say is

Well all I can say is thanks, it is a pleasure to get some useful information from here, unlike that from the supposedly fantastic website that is meant to be dedicated to answering lighting questions, but shall remain unnamed.

jeffhansenSat, 28 Feb 2009, 01:09 pm

If you decide to go with

If you decide to go with the cheap plastic option, I would suggest an aluminium (or tin can) reflector between the lamp and the decorative footlight, to prevent it from melting. This would depend upon the wattage of lamp used, and how close it is to the plastic bits. www.meltheco.org.au

TaureanSun, 1 Mar 2009, 04:07 am

Dang those safety aware professional sparkies.....

Aw... C'Mon Jeff... Where's your sense of adventure gone? Let Karlee play with the molten plastic.... Can this be the same guy that helped me use garden floods to simulate fireworks for Big Daddy's birthday party???

Just kidding... You don't want to get yukky bits all over the minks... or they wont "take them back"...

Karlee, for a reflector, you can use the pie plates or gas ring liners that are available in most "good" supermarkets as easily trimmed-to-shape inserts for the plastic clam shells. But, as Jeff so sagely pointed out - be VERY aware of the heat generated by the globes and the .

It was also suggested (not here), that to minmise heat but maintain brilliance, "eco friendly" globes could be used instead of standard household bubbles - I have doubts that flouro's would dim very well, but I could be wrong.

*Be nice to your tech's - or they'll turn out the lights and go home.*

LogosSun, 1 Mar 2009, 06:17 am

CFL's

From my experience CFL's don't dim worth a damn. Heat isn't that much of an issue if you use 60w household globes which in my experience work really well if you use the sort of numbers they used to in the old theatres. I used about twenty the last time I did this and that gives a total of 1200w which is heaps for what footlights should be used for. This shouldn't be a major part of your lighting. There are some LED based light bulbs finding their way onto the market, they dim and are also very cheap to run. I haven't played with them yet. Those of us who are showing our age around the chin (male and female) like footlights as well, they can really smooth things out Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

jeffhansenSun, 1 Mar 2009, 09:25 am

CFL's (compact fluorescent

CFL's (compact fluorescent lamps, for the uninitiated) are now available in a dimmable version, though I have yet to try them. I expect they would dim to a certain point and then go out altogether, or start to flicker. Has anyone tried them? www.meltheco.org.au

LogosSun, 1 Mar 2009, 10:14 am

CFL's

I have tried them on both analogue and digital dimmers with and without load lamps and they dim on average to about 60% and then flicker and go out. Best results for me were on digital racks with a load lamp, I got dim to about 40 - 50% then flickered up and down and went out. And that was the dimmable ones. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

David AshtonSun, 1 Mar 2009, 10:49 am

CFL and LED

No CFL will do a smooth dim fade, the physics of discharge lights don't allow it,LEDs also have a different fade characteristc to the incandescents in the theatre lights and are very expensive for anything good[ish] But the spectrum [or colour rendition] of both types is nothing like an incandescent, it would seem silly to go to the trouble of authentic looking shell footlights and then stick in fluoros.

LogosSun, 1 Mar 2009, 12:16 pm

Yes

I agree. I was simply following the comments. Mind you after November next year we are going to have to find alternatives for low wattage incandescent as they will start to disappear. Is that all there is? Well if that's all there is my friend, then let's keep dancing. www.tonymoore.id.au

jeffhansenSun, 1 Mar 2009, 12:42 pm

I am under the impression

I am under the impression that it is only the standard sized globes that will disappear, and that the "fancy" globes, such as small round and candle style will still be available. These are usually available up to 40 Watts. www.meltheco.org.au

Walter PlingeSun, 1 Mar 2009, 06:54 pm

Phase out

I have seen a document that states that they are trying to phase out 40w candle, fancy round & decorative lamps for sale around Oct 2010

karlaeMon, 2 Mar 2009, 08:49 am

Yes, I'm probably going to

Yes, I'm probably going to just end up using mr16s or a nice warm 40w globe. CFLs also have a tendancy of failing if the ballast and electronics are subject to too much heat (so I discovered after mounting one into a Patt123 shell.) So I think using one in close proximity to a reflector and not have much ventilation etc may cause it to fail. I like the pie-tin idea! There are warm-white LEDs available on the market these days! You're exactly right David, Im not going to cut corners or go to all this effort to get authentic looking footlights only to put in a CFL or LED. Thanks all for your opinions and help.

David AshtonMon, 2 Mar 2009, 12:32 pm

Don't worry about incandescents for theatre

they will always be available for theatre/tv/film applications either old stock or imported from China etc. Laws always have provision for this kind of situation and there's always people who panic about what they assume about these laws, but do not bother to investigate the detail, there will not be a "Globe Squad" doing midnight raids on clandestine theatre lamps, relax.I'll smuggle in anything you need, it's a business opportunity.

jeffhansenMon, 2 Mar 2009, 12:55 pm

Will the globe police make

Will the globe police make it as difficult to get globes as it is to currently get rewirable piggyback 3 pin plugs? www.meltheco.org.au

David AshtonMon, 2 Mar 2009, 01:15 pm

piggy backs

We have ways and means, http://www.alia.com.au/forums/viewtopic.php?t=309

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