Is that a multi lamp fixture that has end pieces that are half moon shaped?  I have a 2 lamp early 50's (or so) 20 watt fixture with one ballast for 2 bulbs. I cleaned it up, but the end pieces are NOT shaped that way. I found it upstairs in a building in Texas where the upstairs was not being used. It has a short cord and had one burned out OLD GE bulb. I bought 2 GE CW bulbs for it back then ( late 90's I guess) . It has a REMCO and a GE starter.  I left in on for a couple hours and it got quite warm and it was a bit noisy. After being off a good while I turned it back on and it is much quieter. How hot should this ballast get. It's potted with NO writing on it, unless it is on the bottom. 

Powell

Sounds like you have a fluorescent adapter. They were used to replace incandescents in the early days. Icefoglights has some nice examples of these. I have a couple decent ones too. Two lamp ballasts do get pretty warm. I would not be worried as long as it works. Usually the only thing that overheats them is a lamp left at EOL and then the starter sticking.

And my incandescent fixture in the laundry room is a tad too narrow to use. They are the exact same size. I need to take the fluorescent fixture to hardware store and find one that will fit.

John, I about 150 miles to your east. 

Powell

Awesome Powell!  I am planning a trip to Charleston, SC with my lady in the near future.

Charleston is a wonderful place.  Lots of good eating places. I helped a friend on a book of the Coffee Houses of Charleston. Sadly a lot are gone.  I expect there are some good old lamps there too.

Where I am near, Newberry, SC is a nice historic town with the Newberry Opera House.


Powell 

The radio station here, WKDK when I was here in the late 1960's had some half piper 4 lamp fixtures. None are left that had 4 lamps. There is a 2 lamp preheat over the transmitters and it had ends on it at one time. It may have been a half piper.  On one side I am running a T8 bulb. It wouldn't light in the other side, just flash. My fixture at home that is that old doesn't care.

Powell

Powell, If a lamp just flashes on one side of a fitting, it could be the wrong type of starter. For example, if the fitting is for 30 or 40 watt lamps that normally requires FS-4 starters and there is an FS-2 starter installed by error, it will simply flash the lamp, just as if it were spent. There is a risk of overheating the starter as FS-2 starters are not designed for such high voltage applications. Hope this helps..

It is the right starter. The lamp would eventually light, but it took forever ( minutes) and a ACE CW T12 is in that side now. It was VERY hard on that lamp.  I may eventually change it out and try some of those bulbs from Thailand to see how long they go. When bulbs fail on this fixture it usually blows out the filament in a light show. I'm not changing it to electronic till I have to.

Powell

I may put some starters in the fixture that has resets, but when the bulbs  burn out they do a light show and are done. UNfortunately I usually miss all the fun.
Powell