Here is a Sylvania F40T17 white.
There are not many of these F40T17s in white.
I would guess they were some of the first F40T17s Sylvania made.

These are instant start bulbs with the internal shorted pins that require the SM-2E40-S-TP or similar 40 watt F40T17 instant start ballast.

The F40T17 ballasts are easy to find on ebay, but not the fixtures or bulbs.
These are the first F40T17 bulbs I have seen on ebay, however new GE F40T17s in CW are still available on Amazon for $29.99 each.
In any case GE, the last manufacturer of the T17 fluorescent bulbs ain't making them no more.

The F40T17s look just like a F90T17 but must use the F40T17 ballast with the F40T17s.
If you have a F90T17 fixture but can't find the F90T17 bulbs for them, the F40T17s will fit perfect in the fixture, but you will have to change out the ballast to a F40T17 instant start ballast and rewire the bulb holders.
Leave the starters in place for the original look, but disconnect them.
The fixture and bulbs would look just the same as before, but just a little down on light output.

But a word of warning if you do this be sure to mark the fixture to use F40T17 bulbs only in this fixture and here is why.
If someone did not know about the modification to the fixture and put F90T17 bulbs in it thinking that everything is ok, well it is not ok.
The second you turn on the fixture, the filament in one end of the F90T17 bulbs will burn out as all the power to the instant start ballast runs through them making the F90T17 bulb unusable.

Also fixtures can be made for the F40T17s, F90T17s, all sizes of Power Groove and the F54T17s if you can't find any fixtures for them.
They are not difficult to make.
See Larry's gallery for details how to make a fixture for any of these special T17 bulbs.  


http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sylvania-FLUORESCENT-TUBE-F40T17-W-IS-60-SYLVANIA-Collectors-Item-/111458691588?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item19f374aa04

Update: all seven bulbs sold right after listing.
New F40T17CW GEs are still available on Amazon.


Sylvania white 15 watt black enders.

Has  lighting bolt symbol.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sylvania-15-Watt-Fluorescent-Tube-Light-Bulb-F15T8-WWX-18-Lot-of-2-/121432454033?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item1c45f03391


Old Sylvania 15 watt white.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-ART-DECO-ELECTRO-FLORESCENT-DESK-LAMP-PEN-PENCIL-TRAY-BROWN-POST-1940-/221549893524?hash=item3395671794



http://www.ebay.com/itm/Sylvania-15-Watt-Fluorescent-Tube-Light-Bulb-F15T8-W-18-Lot-of-3-/111458552628?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item19f3728b34


Eltron fluorescent bulbs?
If you blow up the picture it looks like "Eltron".

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-large-florescent-desk-lamp-Brown-very-heavy-and-sturdy-/171461181414?hash=item27ebe1ffe6

Marvel fluorescent bulb.
First Marvel bulb I have found so far.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/marvel-8-Watt-12-Inch-Warm-White-Fluorescent-Bulb-nos-F8T5-CW-/231333464086?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item35dc8c8816


Radio fluorescent bulb?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Lot-of-2-Fluorescent-Light-bulbs-and-a-12v-5w-Halogen-Light-Bulb-/171453593196?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item27eb6e366c


Rare Champion daylight bulb.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Champion-F6T5-D-Daylight-Fluorescent-Lamp-Light-Bulbs-6W-9-Made-in-USA-/161395040922?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item2593e4e29a


Old Sylvania black light bulb.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sylvania-F4T5-BLB-Blacklite-Fluorescent-Tube-Light-Bulb-4W-Made-in-USA-/161393220096?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item2593c91a00


I would guess these GEs are from the 1960s.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/F40-T12-BLB-40W-T12-Fluorescent-Black-Light-Blue-48-Bulb-GE-USA-6-pcs-/321520797837?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item4adc22088d




Norelco Japan.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Norelco-F6T5-CW-Fluorescent-Lamp-6-Watt-9-Miniature-Bi-Pin-box-of-25-/111325986694?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item19eb8bbf86

Extra long life bulbs.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Longlife-F20T12-CW-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-24-Guaranteed-Lot-of-2-/121276701383?pt=US_Lighting_Parts_and_Accessories&hash=item1c3ca79ac7


72 inch Power Groove bulbs.
The 96 and 72 inch PG bulbs have been listed for sale before on ebay, but not very many sellers will ship them either because they are afraid they won't make it or just too lazy to ship them and go for local pick up only which usually never happens.

So I bought two of these F72PGs as they are getting harder to find and now this completes my collection of PG bulbs, 48 inch, 72 inch and 96 inch pg bulbs.
Now to make a 72 inch fixture for them which is the easy part.

Update: reduced in price.
Here is a rare chance to buy these bulbs as most sellers of the old PGs bulbs (if you can find any) will not ship them.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121432636995?_trksid=p2059210.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
 

F48PG watt Misers.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/GE-Power-Groove-Lamp-Bulb-F48PR17-CW-NOS-VINTAGE-ANTIQUE-LIGHTING-F48pg17-CW-/111290939893?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19e974f9f5



This company seems to be able find many obsolete lighting fixtures and bulbs.
May be they can dredge up some F90T17s also.


Are these bulbs the special Watt Miser 40 watt (34 watt) GE bulbs that have the internal thermal cutouts for the filaments?
I have seen information on these bulbs, but never actually seen a bulb.
I would like to have two of them, but not a case of them.
As far as I know these special Watt Miser bulbs were only made for a year or so by GE back in the late 1970s or early 80s in the 40 watt size rapid start only.

The idea was to cut out the filaments once the bulb started with a internal thermal switch which reduced the bulb wattage from 40 watt to 34 watt.
But if you turned off the fixture and turned it back on, the bulbs would not start until the cooled back down and the thermal cutout reset.
Must not have been a big seller as they were discontinued after about a year.



http://www.ebay.com/itm/LOT-OF-29-GE-34-Watt-48-T-12-Deluxe-Daylight-Fluorescent-Lamp-F40-DX-WM-/231323219895?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item35dbf037b7

http://www.ebay.com/itm/28-GE-FLUORESCENT-BULBS-F34CW-RS-WM-ECO-NEW-NIB-/371142197903?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5669cc828f



Westinghouse color tone black enders (2)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Mid-Century-DAZOR-1000-Desk-Lamp-Wingtop-Fluorescent-GOOSENECK-Light-USA-Vtg-EXC-/400770744524?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4fcc40cc

 

Sylvania black end Grolux in original sleeve.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-Sylvania-Gro-Lux-15-F14T8-GRO-21493-0-Fluorescent-Tube-Light-Bulb-Lamp-/131127520324?pt=US_Light_Bulbs&hash=item1e87cf2c44  

Only one of these 30 watt Grolux remains with the Sylvania lighting bolt.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/111341879102


Test your fluorescent fixtures with this handy dandy tool.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/General-Electric-GE-Fluorescent-Lamp-Fixture-Rapid-Start-Circuit-Testers-/271599730982?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item3f3c9b0126


Crisp white GE.
For some reason many sellers don't show the bulb etch.
To me this is like selling a car and just say "Ford" without stating a year and model.
It is not like it is difficult to show the bulb etch.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/new-GE-10117-F14T12-CW-Fluorescent-Light-Bulb-/400714394662?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5d4c706c26


 
This fixture might not blow up, but my wallet would.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Linear-Fluorescent-Fixture-F40BX-HFX-40T-304-/301296958998?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4626b2be16


 

Well i was going to do a best offer on all 7 of them F40T17 sylvania and pick them up. I was there couple of times in person. i did find a F90T17 sylvania White
Over there and plus other lamps that have not listed yet
On Ebay. I even manage to bring home a Westy 75 watt
Slimine from there.

if vintagefluorescent want to meet and head up to midland Texas some day u are more then welcome
To meet me some day in october.

Well i was going to do a best offer on all 7 of them F40T17 sylvania and pick them up. I was there couple of times in person. i did find a F90T17 sylvania White
Over there and plus other lamps that have not listed yet
On Ebay. I even manage to bring home a Westy 75 watt
Slimine from there.

if vintagefluorescent want to meet and head up to midland Texas some day u are more then welcome
To meet me some day in october.

Bought two of the Sylvania F40T17 white bulbs, but only one made it in tact.
The sad fact is that these people do not know how to pack and ship fluorescent bulbs properly.
I did receive a refund, but I rather would have had the non replaceable Sylvania F40T17 white bulb.
I did keep the ends in case some one needs one.

This  has happens to me,  the seller reply back
To me on the last 4 before he going to ship
Them out saying all 4 broke, grrrrrrrrrrrr
Well this only had two matching pair F40T17i have
In person including F90T17 white. I Ask him
To cobble up a box of lamps  like a  surprise
Me box,  beside he have lamps every where
Unprotected out in the open weather like
He was asking for a hail storm come in
And boofing all lamps in his front yard
He thowing a lamp shack to together.
Keep in mind he bought house and a building
But loads of lamps came with it i am talking
Like a dieselnut size collection, and a incandescent
And hid that puts me ,silverliner, RJluna, paintballer22
Put together.  It so buried in lamp that u cant look at
It all in one visit.  Below there a lamp that surfaceed
Is F100T12HO that is 6 foot long and T17 bipin ends
Come to find out there Street lighting florescent lamps
Just give u a example here.

Yeah it was depressing to open the package and find the rare Sylvania F40T17 white broken due to the worst packaging I have ever seen for shipping a fluorescent bulb.
One rare Sylvania F40T17 white made it, the other did not.

But that is not all.

From the same seller,

One Broken F72PG

One broken rare F48PGWM

These people have no clue how to properly package and ship fluorescent bulbs.

Hey Guys ,

I can help you put a stop to the breakage,

Call the sellers you deal with and have them ship you're tubes in heavy gauge PVC pipe

Make sure the wrap up the tube well in bubble wrap and allow 6 to 8 inches of bubble wrap on each end to Osborb those 10 foot verticals drops and you should be in business,

A few years ago a member here shipped me a vintage
T-17 (F90T17) fluorescent bulb in a PVC sewer pipe with no problems ,

You can have the seller pick up the PVC pipe for you at you're cost or you can ship pipes up to them for them to ship you're tubes to you ,

Hope this helps ,

Roger,

Yeah it was depressing to open the package and find the rare Sylvania F40T17 white broken due to the worst packaging I have ever seen for shipping a fluorescent bulb.
One rare Sylvania F40T17 white made it, the other did not.

But that is not all.

From the same seller,

One Broken F72PG

One broken rare F48PGWM

These people have no clue how to properly package and ship fluorescent bulbs.

That is a good idea to use PVC or ABS sewer pipe for shipping, but it don't always work.
And here is why.

The diameter of the bulb and the diameter of the pipe makes a difference.
A large diameter bulb such as a T17 in a 3 inch pipe with any packing is a tight fit, so tight that the bulb becomes one with the pipe.
In other words, the bulb becomes solid with the pipe.
A three inch pipe 60 or 72 inches long will deflect slightly during shipping due to all the other packages during shipping.
Any deflection of the pipe will break the bulb due to the bulb being solid with the pipe.

In fact this is just what happened with one F72PG and one F40T17, both arrived broken.
They were packed with paper wrapping and bubble wrap the entire length of the bulb in the 3 inch pipe so solid that just a little deflection of the pipe broke the bulbs .
The pipe and the bulb became as one solid piece.

The pipe may bend a little, but the bulb won't bend at all.
This was really poor judgment of the seller.
Also the 3 inch pipe was HDPE water pipe which is also somewhat flexible making it a poor choice of pipe to use.
PVC or ABS schedule 40 or higher with a larger diameter is a better choice.

The larger the diameter of the bulb, the larger the diameter of the pipe required.
The bulb should be  supported on the ends only in the pipe so that any minor deflection of the pipe will not affect the bulb.
The bulb manufactures pack the longer bulbs this way, supported on the ends only to insure that any minor bending of the box during shipping won't break the bulbs.
The longer the pipe and or the smaller the diameter, the more deflection there will be.

A little common sense would have helped to preserve two rare bulbs from destruction.



 

 

I got the last of the 8 foot PowerGroove Daylight tubes a while back from Grainger.  They shipped them in the box they were in from the factory.  No added packing, no outer box. It is amazing the two out of eight survived. The box was destroyed.  They refunded my money but what a waste of good tubes that are no longer made. 

I find 4 inch PVC or ABS  pipes works very well
Aa i brought home my 8 footer with out any padding
On the end , but that was me handling  the 8 foot
Tube. Bit shipper will take a object and slam stuff hard.

I had a fed ex guy  brought a box of tubes on my
Deck and i heard this boof sound, i was very Piss off
I reported fed ex and made the guy pay for his action
Of damaging my tubes.

I know the feeling.
A F48PGWM was shipped to me in the worst packaging job I have ever seen for a fluorescent bulb.
I looked out the window and saw the Fedex box at my front door.
I instantly knew the bad news as the box was bent in the middle.
I can not blame Fedex for this as the bulb was improperly packed.
No shipper could have shipped a bulb packaged like that and not have had a problem.

They did refund my money, but I really wanted the bulb.

 

 

That is almost how my case of F96 Power Grooves looked.  It is amazing the two did survive.

Nice lamps. Does anybody have the fixtures that use(d) them?