Projector Carbon Rods

Object/Artifact

Waseca County History Center

Name/Title

Projector Carbon Rods

Entry/Object ID

2024.49.10

Description

Movie Projector Carbon Arc Rods. Vintage electrodes for carbon arc lamps used in film projection. (a) 8" x .25" diameter, (b) 8" x .5" diameter.

Use

Used to generate extremely bright, high-intensity light for 35mm and 16mm film projection.

Context

Movie projection equipment used by the Sully and Tillie Walther family in their Janesville business, the New Star Theatre in the 1930s to the 1950s.

Cataloged By

Pfen

Made/Created

Manufacturer

National Projector

Date made

circa 1940 - circa 1960

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Visual Communication Accessories

Nomenclature Class

Visual Communication T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication

Legacy Lexicon

Object Name

Carbon Arc Rod

Class

Visual Communication Devices

Other Names and Numbers

Other Number

49.24

Dimensions

Length

8 in

Diameter

1/2 in

Research Notes

Notes

Widely used from the 20th Century through the 1960s in theaters and large auditoriums before being replaced by safer, more convenient xenon arc lamps and modern digital projection.

Create Date

October 14, 2026

Update Date

October 16, 2026