Homemade 50 Watt Mercury Vapor Fixture

Thought some of you might find this interesting. Someone on Lighting-gallery.net tipped me off that there was a listing for the ever-elusive 50w mercury vapor ballast, something they mentioned even they had been on the hunt for for years. They did provide the link since there was more and I snapped one up for under $20, not a bad deal. Between that and a nice NOS in sleeve 1983 Westinghouse Lifeguard 50w /DX lamp and a $29.99 Cooper vaportight fixture from Lowes, I have this. I still need to find a better pull box for the ballast, I bought one but it turned out I don't have a drill.

One amusing sides story from the assembly of this thing: I first stopped at a Sentry, hoping they'd have everything I need, plus they are arguably one of the neater small hardware stores in Fairbanks. (The lighting aisle is full of all kinds of oddball NOS items, even California-wattage incandescents, you have to leave quickly before you bankrupt yourself). While searching for the cheapest-possible wire-on plug, I unknowingly bought a 20A one! I didn't even realize it until I had it wired on and went to plug it in, too! So I have to go back there, and might pick up some of the 38w clear GE bulbs they have, maybe even the partial case GE F40/DX/ECO that's been there for months.

(Not gonna lie, the place is a little on the OVERPRICED side. That's why stuff never moves. But a really fun store nevertheless if you're a lighting enthusiast).