As I am starting to read more articles about countries around the world phasing out fluorescent and HID lighting due to the Minamata Convention on mercury, I am starting to fear that in most countries in the world, it will become progressively more difficult for existing lighting enthusiasts to expand their collections of non-LED lighting due to the increasing rarity of fluorescent, HID, halogen, and incandescent lamps due to the  fact that aggressive bulb bans are rapidly taking place and the lack of secondhand resources that will be able to sell such light sources in most countries. It seems depressing that in the near future, most lighting enthusiasts will only know of LED lighting since it is now being used in most fixtures right now. In addition, I have this feeling that most of us will be forced to use LED lighting in every nook and cranny if we want to preserve our collections of non-LED lighting. In that case, many of us who have had dreams of using non-LED lighting for general use will end up being left in the dark because fluorescent lamps, halogen lamps, HID lamps, and incandescent lamps will all become too precious to use until EOL if being used for general lighting. From what I understand, it seems like many North American members will have the best chances of obtaining lighting secondhand while in most other countries, it will be hard to obtain lighting secondhand.

Pardon me, but isn’t there already a few threads about this?
 

I think so too. I already replied to one of these types of threads before.

What I am fearing is that many of these traditional light sources will become as rare as hen’s teeth in a very short amount of time is because many of these lamps will get scrapped in large numbers as a result of building renovations. I have a very strong feeling that most of these lamps will become as rare as North American /X mercury vapor lamps and British SO/H low pressure sodium lamps even though they were as common as muck as of today.

I don’t know, the SO/H date back to the late 30s early 40s, and they do keep popping up sometimes 80 odd years later!, I don’t think the humble fluorescent tube will be that rare to find even in the next 50 years?

With all do respect, can we cut back on the “we’re all doomed” type threads please? I mean a few threads about bans and such… okay that’s fine, but several of them just with different titles each time is kinda redundant. Thanks.

I agree, I think what's to be discussed about this this type of topics has already been discussed IMO.

This is exactly why I'm collecting and saving as many fluorescent tubes and HID lamps as I can. It's only a matter of time until Australia bans them in favour of LEDs. My streetlights are only turned on about once a month for testing purposes due to lack of lamps and increasing prices for replacements. I only use modern imported fluorescent tubes in the fixtures I use regularly and keep the old and special tubes in my collection. I'm also parting out damaged fixtures not worth repairing because their parts will eventually become more expensive and harder to find.
 

Do you know where in Australia I can source light bulbs including fluorescent tubes from secondhand sources besides eBay?

Seems I've seen a few of these rants on here today. .lol.

As for me, myself I'm not worried about having lights: even if I suddenly walked into every store around to find not a single fluorescent in sight.
The simple fact is...I'm old. And with that I have more than a lifetime's supply of lamps, even if I was just to leave random lights on 24/7.

Anymore I could honestly really care less what type of light someone else lights their house or business with. I'll stick to my fluorescents & incandescents. they can use whatever. .lol.lol.

Agreed !!

I really don't think that such a situation of doom will ever arise, because there is a thing called the Antiques Business.  All kinds of products that were discontinued even a century ago and which were produced in considerably lower volumes than electric lamps are are still readily available today, via a multitude of specialists, shops, auction houses and other outlets.  Moreover, as the world becomes more widely digitised, antique items are becoming easier to find thanks to the internet that makes it easier for buyers and sellers to locate each other.  Years ago I waited decades to find my first example of rarities like an SO/H sodium lamp or the GE electronic Halarc - but now it seems they are turning up with ever-increasing frequency.

The only thing that might change in the short term is that prices for older lamps could rise during a transition period when ordinary consumers still want to buy older lamps to use them in service, and compete with collectors.  But after that period a time always comes when practically no consumers exist and the few specialised collectors are the only people willing to buy such articles - and due to their limited numbers the supply outstrips the demand and prices then fall again.  In Europe we have already passed through this period for ordinary incandescent lamps.  Soon after the bans many consumers really did not want to change and were paying ten times the normal prices as stocks dwindled.  Now there are so few real consumers left that prices have dropped so low that it is often difficult to find any customers at all.  Based on this evidence I prefer to look on the bright side, and really do believe that there is a long and healthy future for lamp collectors!

Well said James !!

 Now, can we please have less of the sky is falling , doom and gloom topics ? There's enough negativity in the world already !!

I don’t know, the SO/H date back to the late 30s early 40s, and they do keep popping up sometimes 80 odd years later!, I don’t think the humble fluorescent tube will be that rare to find even in the next 50 years?

SO/H lamps were being made up until around 1965 for replacement purposes; as you say Rich, they still pop up from time to time.

I don't think the overall picture is as black as sometimes painted, though. True, traditional lamps and fixtures probably will not be made for much longer, but I believe they'll be around on the second hand market for many years to come.

My greatest regret is the speed at which LED has ousted other technologies for street lighting. I can still get incandescent and CFL lamps for use at home, in fact we probably have enough in stock to see us out, but there's nothing I can do about what's outside the front door 

Well said James !!

Now, can we please have less of the sky is falling , doom and gloom topics ? There's enough negativity in the world already !!

I second that.