G27/BRK Exciter Lamp Discontinued

[Alan Myers]

I always think with forums, one of the problems is when people think they are helping, but instead they actually cause a bigger problem.

My thoughts when I first saw this thread was, announcing something has been discontinued just allows the idiots to jump on and buy it all to make sure THEY are OK and sod everyone else, or worse, sell the item at prices only a highway robber would charge which we are now seeing.
The stocks now will be sat in drawers and shelves and probably never get used. How sad.

I've done my homework and shopped around on this and all i get is "sorry one person bought the lot". Had it have been left alone, the stocks would have been around for a while longer. The price of these should have been no more than around £4.95.

One to watch is an ebay seller eurocommevents2010.
These people are advertising them as new for £10, when you order it states, may not be in a box, so it's not new then is it?

When did yours last blow?

[Joerg Polzfusz]

Hi!

It really looks like Osram, Philips and several other companies stopped producing exciter lamps (all types - at least according to their websites).
But Ushio stills lists the BRK in their catalogs:
https://www.ushio.com/files/catalog/...candescent.pdf
So: Is it really out of production?

Jörg

[Maurice Leakey]

Have a look at this Ebay seller who says they are discontinued, and he has bought out the remaining stocks of Ushio G27 (BRK) lamps.
Priced at £24.99 each.
G27 BRK 4V 0.75A EXCITER BULB LAMP.FOR ELF EIKI ELMO 16mm PROJECTORS | eBay

[Alan Myers]

Not exactly supporting the hobby is it? Pure greed. Digital 4K cheaper and better projection seems a much better option,
I did find out something about these bulbs though, it reads
"these do have a shelf life, the gas inside leaks out because the molecules are smaller than the glass molecules, often kept in damp cupboards or warehouses for years, when you plug them in they wont last very long, the gas is there to protect the filament as well"

I myself wasn't aware of this but it does make perfect sense. the fact it is discontinued and one or two people buy them all up is, in my opinion, sheer greed. Clearly not a collector, but a money grabber.

And this is what happens when people go onto forums and announce to the world that we need to go out stock up.

[Brian Fretwell]

Not exactly supporting the hobby is it? Pure greed. Digital 4K cheaper and better projection seems a much better option,
I did find out something about these bulbs though, it reads
"these do have a shelf life, the gas inside leaks out because the molecules are smaller than the glass molecules, often kept in damp cupboards or warehouses for years, when you plug them in they wont last very long, the gas is there to protect the filament as well"

I myself wasn't aware of this but it does make perfect sense. the fact it is discontinued and one or two people buy them all up is, in my opinion, sheer greed. Clearly not a collector, but a money grabber.

And this is what happens when people go onto forums and announce to the world that we need to go out stock up.

Or just when manufacturers announce they are discontinuing an item. People looking for a profit will check for announcements like that.

[Alan Myers]

That's right Brian, the daylight robbers, probably say they support the hobby when the only thing they do support is their own bank accounts. This could well screw up a lot of people with a 16mm projecotor whose machine will be rendered a silent only machine, hence their film collections will be useless unless they buy another model projector.

Not too long ago, i was reliably informed that there is a way around this by modifying the bulb but I wont put it up here otherwise some wise ass will offer the solution for a fee.

[Jim Schrader]

What do the GS units use?

[Jim Schrader]

this isn't even a BRK shown in the picture 😆

https://www.ebay.com/itm/31412926367...3ABFBM-v783MVh

[Kevin Faulkner]

I take it the BRS as used in the Elmo GS1200 & ST1200 machines will become obsolete too 😥

[John Burgess]

It wouldn’t be too difficult if all supplies ran out to use a similar lamp with the same filament configuration suitable dc smoothed supply and possibly alter the holder to suit. Some one no doubt will come up with a conversion kit.The strange thing with exciter lamps is in all my years of projecting (70) including most makes of 9.5 / 16 mm optical sound projectors I have never had one fail, maybe I’ve been lucky.
John

[Kevin Faulkner]

John, I think they are under run voltage wise so seem to go on forever.

[John Burgess]

Kevin I think you are quite right. I think as keen collectors we always keep one as spare, just in case!
Of course owners of GB L516, Debrie and the legendary Pathe Vox used the projection lamp as an exciter , no problem for their owners.
John

[Maurice Leakey]

I take it the BRS as used in the Elmo GS1200 & ST1200 machines will become obsolete too 😥

The G29 (BRS) is used in many more projectors that the G27 (BRK) so let's hope that it will continue to be available.