Well it looks like it is too late if you wanted a F54T17SPB from Amazon.
Sold out.
I wanted to make a special fixture for two for them to put my garage in to the deep blue sea.

http://www.amazon.com/GE-26390-Straight-Fluorescent-Light/dp/B002CYVVLY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1402212273&sr=8-2&keywords=f54t17

Update: 6/10/14 Apparently it is not too late as the F54T17s are still available here or at least this web site said they still are.
One thing I have learned in the past is just because there is a listing that a item is available for sale may or may not mean anything as many of these web sites are too lazy to update their listings.
I run into this situation all the time.

Since GE has discontinued all T17 production I think these special bulbs will become collector items if not already.
I found out that these bulbs have long been used in the theatre and movie industry for special blue effects and also used in large aquariums to give them that deep blue sea effect.
Plus Coral really likes blue light, so the F54T17SPB works wonders for Coral apparently.
I will see what they do to my garage.


http://www.elightbulbs.com/GE-26390-F54-INCHT17-SPB-Straight-T17-Fluorescent-Tube

Update 6/10/14 Ok I just bought two of these with a confirmed order with a confirmed payment, so now I will wait and see if the order gets cancelled or not.

Another crazy lighting project.
These are 180 watt 1500 ma Rapid start bulbs.
A Advance RS2S-200 ballast as this is what John recommended for this application.

Update: 6/24/14 I received the two F54T17SPBs today.
They are NOS GE bulbs and are white.
They were well packed and really are clean and have a very smooth polished finish quality to the glass.

I have the correct rapid start ballast on the way still in shipping and will do a test to see what happens when both of these are fired up.
It is supposed to be "Super Blue" so I guess I will find out what "Super Blue" is.

These F54T17 bulbs are already becoming rare and the price at some web sites are now as high as $502 each.
So $104 each was a good deal after all.
They are of today 6/24/14 still available at $104 each plus shipping if you want one of the unique bulbs.


Some more information from GE.

https://secure.gelightnet.com/eu/resources/literature_library/product_brochures/downloads/UVBrochure.pdf?SMSESSION=NO

Only 2000 hours and the F54T17SPB turns into a pumpkin.
At 54 inches long and 180 watts, the bulb must under some heavy loading to only go 2000 hours.
I wonder how many lumens' this is?
Guess I better not leave it on too long.

Here is a rare F54T17.
But the etch is F56T17.

https://www.google.com/search?q=f54t17&sa=N&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ei=dXLYU5bXBcf0oATW2YKQCQ&ved=0CDAQsAQ4Cg&biw=1193&bih=656#facrc=_&imgdii=_&imgrc=8EEzfROsSqKbMM%253A%3B7Lh1lLupEX0y-M%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wslusa.com%252Fsitebuildercontent%252Fsitebuilderpictures%252FReprographics%252F.pond%252FSYTECF56T17SDBVHOLamp.JPG.w560h258.jpg%3Bhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.wslusa.com%252Fid158.html%3B560%3B258



Need a ballast?

http://www.usa.lighting.philips.com/pwc_li/us_en/connect/advance/assets/05_Mag%20Fluoro_Atlas2014_R4.pdf

You should be able to run it on a 215 watt VHO ballast, as they are rated for shorter (F72) tubes also and they are 1500 ma.

You should be able to run it on a 215 watt VHO ballast, as they are rated for shorter (F72) tubes also and they are 1500 ma.

 
I can't find any information on the F54T17SPB other than it is a Rapid Start 180 watt.
It is kind of a rare bulb with not too much information about them.

Someone must have made a fixture for them at one time, but I have never seen one, so I would guess they are a special custom fixture as they were used in movie sets, theatre, stage, large aquariums, as well as in copy machines.


The 215 watt PG ballasts use two wires to each end of the PG bulb.
I am guessing that the F54T17SPBs are wired the same way to operate the filaments like a rapid start ballast does.

The F40T17s are wired like a slimline with only one wire on one end of the bulb and two wires on the other and use the internally shorted bulb as a power cutout for the ballast.
The F40T17 is kind of a odd ball bulb in that respect.

It is odd to me that the F90T17, F40T17, F54T17 look some what similar in appearance, but all three operate in a completely different way from each other and must have the correct ballast and wiring for each to work right.



http://genet.gelighting.com/LightProducts/Dispatcher?REQUEST=BALLASTSPECPAGE&PRODUCTCODE=86430

http://vintageadsandbooks.com/whiteway-manufacturing-company-1957-ge-power-groove-flood-lighting-vintage-ad-za544.html?language=en&currency=USD
 

There are F40T12 instant start tubes wired the same way as the internally shorted F40T17s. I bought some GE Cool White Instant Start F40T12s from member TCOmega for a vintage NOS fixture I have that came with Champion tubes installed.

These lamps are redibulously expensive for what they are. No thanks! I mean I'd love to have a couple but at that price point I might as well buy a car!

I think my Sylvania black ender blue emits quite a pleasing blue light..