Lighting Fixtures: “The Gibson Story” circa 1950 Gibson Manufacturing Company, Atlana, Georgia

more at

Well made marketing film produced by an Atlanta, Georgia lighting fixture manufacturer, which is apparently now defunct. Shows how light fixtures are made and installed.

Public domain film from the Prelinger Archive, slightly cropped to remove uneven edges, with the aspect ratio corrected, and mild video noise reduction applied.
The soundtrack was also processed with volume normalization, noise reduction, clipping reduction, and/or equalization (the resulting sound, though not perfect, is far less noisy than the original).

A light fixture (US English), light fitting (UK English), or luminaire is an electrical device used to create artificial light by use of an electric lamp. All light fixtures have a fixture body and a light socket to hold the lamp and allow for its replacement. Fixtures may also have a switch to control the light. Fixtures require an electrical connection to a power source; permanent lighting may be directly wired, and moveable lamps have a plug. Light fixtures may also have other features, such as reflectors for directing the light, an aperture (with or without a lens), an outer shell or housing for lamp alignment and protection, and an electrical ballast or power supply. A wide variety of special light fixtures are created for use in the automotive lighting industry, aerospace, marine and medicine.

The use of the word “lamp” to describe light fixtures is common slang for an all-in-one luminary unit, usually portable “fixtures” such as a table lamp or desk lamp (in contrast to a true fixture, which is fixed in place with screws or some other semi-permanent attachment). In technical terminology, a lamp is the light source, what is typically called the light bulb. (See Lamp (electrical component).)

Light fixtures are classified by how the fixture is installed, the light function or lamp type.

Light fixture is US usage; in British English it is called a light fitting. However, luminaire is the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) terminology for technical use…

History

Fixture manufacturing began soon after production of the incandescent light bulb. When practical uses of fluorescent lighting were realized after 1939, the three (3) leading companies to produce various fixtures were Lightolier, Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation, and Globe Lighting in the United States.

Free-standing or portable

– Table lamp fixtures, standard lamp fixtures, and office task light luminaires.

– Balanced-arm lamp is a spot light with an adjustable arm such as anglepoise or Luxo L1.
– Gooseneck lamp
– Nightlight

Fixed

– Recessed light — the protective housing is concealed behind a ceiling or wall, leaving only the fixture itself exposed. The ceiling-mounted version is often called a downlight.
– “Cans” with a variety of lamps — this term is jargon for inexpensive downlighting products that are recessed into the ceiling, or sometimes for uplights placed on the floor. The name comes from the shape of the housing. The term “pot lights” is often used in Canada and parts of the US.
– Troffer — recessed fluorescent light fixtures, usually rectangular in shape to fit into a drop ceiling grid.
– Cove light — recessed into the ceiling in a long box against a wall.
– Torch lamp, torchière, or floor lamp.

– Surface-mounted light — the finished housing is exposed, not flush with surface
– Chandelier
– Pendant light — suspended from the ceiling with a chain or pipe
– Sconce — provide up or down lights; can be used to illuminate artwork, architectural details; commonly used in hallways or as an alternative to overhead lighting.
– Track lighting fixture — individual fixtures (“track heads”) can be positioned anywhere along the track, which provides electric power.
– Under-cabinet light — mounted below kitchen wall cabinets
– Ceiling fan – May sometimes have a light, often referred to as a light kit mounted to it.
– Emergency lighting or exit sign — connected to a battery backup or to an electric circuit that has emergency power if the mains power fails
– High- and low-bay lighting — typically used for general lighting for industrial buildings and often big-box stores
– Strip lights or industrial lighting — often long lines of fluorescent lamps used in a warehouse or factory

– Outdoor lighting and landscape lighting — used to illuminate walkways, parking lots, roadways, building exteriors and architectural details, gardens, and parks.
– Pole- or stanchion-mounted — for landscape, roadways, and parking lots
– Pathway lighting — typically mounted in the ground at low levels for illuminating walkways
– Bollard — A type of architectural outdoor lighting…