Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

stephen_g · 4th Oct 2022, 10:19 am

Hello all,

Does anyone have any of the type 81 fuse lamps as used in the Hickok 539A valve tester please, or know of a supplier in the UK?
It is a single contact bayonet lamp BA15S base, GE part number is GE-25736-81.

Thanks

Stephen

Kevin Hoyland · 5th Oct 2022, 7:50 am

Morning Stephen.
The bulb that you are after is a car / truck bulb and that's all . But for years people in the USA say that if you do not use the right one the tester plays up. I am sure Lucas made one in the UK that is the same.
Kev.

stephen_g · 5th Oct 2022, 9:06 am

Morning Kev,

Thanks for your post, I'll keep searching!

Kind regards

Stephen

brunel · 6th Oct 2022, 1:26 pm

36 pages of BA15S lamps here.

https://www.cp-lighting.co.uk/Lamps?search=BA15S+

broadgage · 6th Oct 2022, 3:35 pm

The correct rating is important. Various sources give this as being 7 watts at either 6.5 volts or 7 volts.

Probably used as marker lights/side lights in USA. A more common rating in the UK is 5 watts.

usradcoll1 · 7th Oct 2022, 4:41 pm

Quote:

Originally Posted by broadgage

The correct rating is important. Various sources give this as being 7 watts at either 6.5 volts or 7 volts.

Probably used as marker lights/side lights in USA. A more common rating in the UK is 5 watts.

The #81 lamp was used in US c*rs pre 1956 as back-up and interior lighting and readily available in auto parts stores and garages. The lamps, at the time were rated 6-8 volts. It probably would be best to source US made lamps!
BTW, the fuse lamp glows rather brightly when testing high current rectifier valves, such as a 5U4 at inrush and glows slightly when valve is heated.
Dave, USradcoll1

FrankB · 8th Oct 2022, 3:54 am

Be sure the bulb height is the same as the one you are replacing.
I had one that was too high and would not fit properly.
If you can find an older U.S. made bulb it should work OK.
I bought a master box of 12 at the auto parts store for less than the price of a 2 pack on the peg board. But the glass was a bit too tall. Chinese import bulb. Also have heard of others where the bulb will not work properly due to current/ voltage differences in the import bulbs.
If I had a spare, I'd send you one, but I need a couple for my own T/T for spares. Hard to find even here.

vidjoman · 8th Oct 2022, 7:25 am

My list of US numbers from GE shows #81 as - #81 Bayonet Base 6.5 volts @ 1.02 amp

4th Oct 2022, 10:19 am	#1
stephen_g Triode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 25	Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. Hello all, Does anyone have any of the type 81 fuse lamps as used in the Hickok 539A valve tester please, or know of a supplier in the UK? It is a single contact bayonet lamp BA15S base, GE part number is GE-25736-81. Thanks Stephen

5th Oct 2022, 7:50 am	#2
Kevin Hoyland Heptode Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Rotherham, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 530	Re: Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. Morning Stephen. The bulb that you are after is a car / truck bulb and that's all . But for years people in the USA say that if you do not use the right one the tester plays up. I am sure Lucas made one in the UK that is the same. Kev.

5th Oct 2022, 9:06 am	#3
stephen_g Triode Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Birmingham, West Midlands, UK. Posts: 25	Re: Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. Morning Kev, Thanks for your post, I'll keep searching! Kind regards Stephen

6th Oct 2022, 1:26 pm	#4
brunel Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: LEEDS.......North of the River Aire. Posts: 851	Re: Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. 36 pages of BA15S lamps here. https://www.cp-lighting.co.uk/Lamps?search=BA15S+

6th Oct 2022, 3:35 pm	#5
broadgage Nonode Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: North Somerset, UK. Posts: 2,035	Re: Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. The correct rating is important. Various sources give this as being 7 watts at either 6.5 volts or 7 volts. Probably used as marker lights/side lights in USA. A more common rating in the UK is 5 watts.

8th Oct 2022, 3:54 am	#7
FrankB Heptode Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Olympia, Washington, USA. Posts: 605	Re: Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. Be sure the bulb height is the same as the one you are replacing. I had one that was too high and would not fit properly. If you can find an older U.S. made bulb it should work OK. I bought a master box of 12 at the auto parts store for less than the price of a 2 pack on the peg board. But the glass was a bit too tall. Chinese import bulb. Also have heard of others where the bulb will not work properly due to current/ voltage differences in the import bulbs. If I had a spare, I'd send you one, but I need a couple for my own T/T for spares. Hard to find even here.

8th Oct 2022, 7:25 am	#8
vidjoman Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: East Sussex, UK. Posts: 3,009	Re: Hickok type 81 fuse lamp. My list of US numbers from GE shows #81 as - #81 Bayonet Base 6.5 volts @ 1.02 amp