Letter 25108

Looking to color small light bulbs for a toy  

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I have acquired a vintage toy (1962) robot that has two blinking GE 401-style light bulbs for eyes (1.5v). These "flasher-bulbs" are only available in clear, and the one in the toy are transparent red, but just on the top - the glass around the base is clear by design. Is there a clear-colored coating that could be hand-applied to the small bulbs? The vintage ones won't last forever!

J. W. Leggio
hobbyist - Dallas, Texas, United States

Well, you sparked a very old memory. Back when I was a teenager, cars were just making the transition from white to amber turn signal lights, so those of us with older cars who wanted to customize them to the new look had to paint our bulbs amber :-)

I remember the tint was available from auto stores, it was just painted on, and it worked fine. So it is certainly possible to successfully apply this kind of thing to existing bulbs. But I wouldn't know where, if anywhere, that you can buy the red tint you are looking for.

Ted Mooney, P.E.  finishing.com Brick, New Jersey

You can buy glass paint online or from your local craft store for a reasonable price. It comes a bit thick but u can thin it with paint thinner. My mother uses it to paint vases and has done a few lamp shrouds. It's available in many colors and is very affordable. I'm not sure what types of temperatures it can handle but the things she paints heat up a bit with no problems. I'm assuming it should be able to handle the heat from the bulb.

Jason Aube
- Flint, MI, USA

Your craft shop should carry paints that are used for faux stained glass - will give the transparency you are looking for.

Gayle Coffey
- Lenoir, NC

Sourcing: Pinata Colors 1/2 oz. chili pepper red from MisterArt.

Where did you find GE 401 clear bulbs?

Ken Delbridge
- Knightstown, IN, USA

It looks like those bulbs are available at atlantalightbulbs.com, Ken.

 
Ted Mooney, P.E.
finishing.com Inc. - Brick, NJ

I'm looking for retailer that can provide to me with Ge401 1.5V flasher bulbs and another small screw bulbs to toy restoring,cause atlantalightbulbs.com can not send foreign orders below 500US dollars, what it is too much to me.
any help will be welcome
thankfully
fermin

Fermin Maria Beloqui
toy restorer - Cazalla de la Sierra, Sevilla, Spain

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