Evening star., 1940-11-02
New Tubular Light
Described as Boon
For Dwellings
Can Be Put in Operation
With Minimum Of
Expense and Effort
Bv LAWRENCE CROLIUS.

If you are looking for a new and
super-eficient type of lighting for
your home you will be inte,' 'ested,
and, not a little bit amazed, by the
new tubular f1uorescent units which
have recently been placed on the
market. Unlike ordinary lamp bulbs
of the type we usually use in lamps
and fixtures, these new devices pro-
duce many times the amount of
light that ordinary lamps of similar
wattage are able to. In other words.
a 40-watt tube doesn't produce just
the amount of light that we asso-
ciate with that size bulb, but goes
on and provides you with much
more usable light.
These new tubular lights can be
used in numerous places around
your home where a soft but ade-
quate supply of illumination is
desired. Placed on either side Of
a bathroom mirror they will help
the tedious business of shaving to a
tremendous extent, and dads den
can be lighted up with mellow
glow which will enable him to read
in pleasure and still not envelope
him in strenuous blast of light.
Modern game rooms also lend them
selves admirably to this type of
lighting, and by clever use of in
direct holdings and panel lighting
they will add tremendously to the
decorative effects which you are
trying to achieve.
Numerous methods of putting
these new lights into operation have
been developed in recent months,
and it is now possible to install
them as easily and simply as ordi-
nary lamps. The operate in man
ner similar to regular neon tube
lights. you know, and require ad-
ditional equipment to make them
60. In early installations this ex-
ira equipment was a bit of a prob
lem. but now it is all built into the
base of the tube, and is a stand
ardized unit. These new units are
available in standard lengths for
regulation tubes and can be had
either wired or unwired. The units
are provided with white plastic
holders, which hold the light in it's
proper place, and the bases them
selves are made of metal with a
polished aluminium finish which is
practical as well as highly deco
rative.
There isn't any mystery to the
operation of the lights, and you will
find that they can be put in oper-
alton with a minimum of expense
and effort. AS an added attraction
to make these lamps even more
worth while, it is possible to install
standardized reflectors of either
diffusing or concentrating type.
These reflectors fit right onto the
standard bases and do much to en-
nance the looks and performance of
the installation.
X x X
Steel Retaining Walls.
Nearly every house has one or
more windows which are below
grade, down in the basement, that
is, and keeping the adjacent earth
IN its proper place sometimes con-
stltutes a major problem for the
harassed home owner. Brick re-
tanning walls give way and allow
dirt and moisture to flow basement
ward, and unless something solid
and substantial is put in place it
can manage to be constant source
of worry. particularly in wet, wintry
weather.
Again the steel industry steps into
the gap and provides us with a unit
Of standardized shape and con-
struction which makes a strong,
solid barrier. These new area walls
are made of heavy copper alloy steel,
which will last almost forever, or if
you desire, a special porcelain
enameled steel which is equally
rugged and durable. On the former
the interior comes with two coats of
sturdy aluminium paint which will
help to brighten up the interior of
the cellar no little and the porcelain