Used Fresnel

Eric Corliss · November 21st, 2008, 10:37 AM

Hello-
Looking at buying a used Fresnel for portrait work and am wondering if anyone can identify what model this is. The guy who I am buying it from does not know (and he is a couple of hours away from me), but says that the stand is a Mole Richardson. He also believes it to be 1,000 watt, but is not sure. Any idea? Any advice?

Thanks!
Eric

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4628/img4110dm2.jpg

http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5013/img4109te8.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9162/167azz3.jpg

Richard Alvarez · November 21st, 2008, 11:01 AM

Looks like a typical Altman stage instrument. Designed to be hung.

Eric Corliss · November 21st, 2008, 11:37 AM

That's it! Thanks. I Googled them and they look like they are pretty cheap...probably not worth a 4 hour round trip and $50. And from my reading they are not focusable, correct?

Boyd Ostroff · November 21st, 2008, 11:48 AM

It's a little hard to tell from those photos; it could be either an Altman or an older Century 6" Fresnel. The attachment shows what the Century unit looked like.

Altman bought Century's old designs for the 6" fresnel and Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight back in the late 1960's IIRC, and has made them for many years. Other smaller companies have also copied these designs.

Later, Century became Century-Strand, then finally just Strand Lighting. Brings back lots of memories of my days as a high school, church basement and college "techie" :-)

Steve Oakley · November 21st, 2008, 11:52 AM

its not a mole for sure, its a stage light as the others have suggested. given its small size, its most likely a 500W bulb in there. while you might be able to mount a 1K, it wouldn't be safe. in fact even with a 500 these lights run really hot as they are very simply sheet metal housings. they are really cheap new, I wouldn't pay more then $50 for it at best, maybe 35 since it seems to be missing the barndoors. B/D's for these lights are pretty crappy.

November 21st, 2008, 10:37 AM	#1
Eric Corliss Tourist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 2	Used Fresnel - what make/model is this? Hello- Looking at buying a used Fresnel for portrait work and am wondering if anyone can identify what model this is. The guy who I am buying it from does not know (and he is a couple of hours away from me), but says that the stand is a Mole Richardson. He also believes it to be 1,000 watt, but is not sure. Any idea? Any advice? Thanks! Eric http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/4628/img4110dm2.jpg http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/5013/img4109te8.jpg http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9162/167azz3.jpg

November 21st, 2008, 11:48 AM	#4
Boyd Ostroff Wrangler Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Mays Landing, NJ Posts: 11,787	It's a little hard to tell from those photos; it could be either an Altman or an older Century 6" Fresnel. The attachment shows what the Century unit looked like. Altman bought Century's old designs for the 6" fresnel and Ellipsoidal Reflector Spotlight back in the late 1960's IIRC, and has made them for many years. Other smaller companies have also copied these designs. Later, Century became Century-Strand, then finally just Strand Lighting. Brings back lots of memories of my days as a high school, church basement and college "techie" :-) Attached Images

November 21st, 2008, 11:01 AM	#2
Richard Alvarez Inner Circle Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: San Mateo, CA Posts: 3,840	Looks like a typical Altman stage instrument. Designed to be hung.

November 21st, 2008, 11:37 AM	#3
Eric Corliss Tourist Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Seattle Posts: 2	That's it! Thanks. I Googled them and they look like they are pretty cheap...probably not worth a 4 hour round trip and $50. And from my reading they are not focusable, correct?

November 21st, 2008, 11:52 AM	#5
Steve Oakley Trustee Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: United States Posts: 1,158	its not a mole for sure, its a stage light as the others have suggested. given its small size, its most likely a 500W bulb in there. while you might be able to mount a 1K, it wouldn't be safe. in fact even with a 500 these lights run really hot as they are very simply sheet metal housings. they are really cheap new, I wouldn't pay more then $50 for it at best, maybe 35 since it seems to be missing the barndoors. B/D's for these lights are pretty crappy.