Fiberglass Film Studio Spotlight Floor Lamp from Mole-Richardson, England, 1950s

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An extremely rare Mole-Richardson model 612, known within the industry as the Sputnik, its round fiberglass body and three protruding … Read more An extremely rare Mole-Richardson model 612, known within the industry as the Sputnik, its round fiberglass body and three protruding support legs earning that nickname on set floors for their resemblance to the satellite launched in 1957. This particular unit carries documented history, having once served Bayerischer Rundfunk, Germany's public broadcaster, and still wears its original identification tags.

Mole-Richardson was founded in Hollywood in 1927 by Peter Mole, a Sicilian immigrant who had previously worked for General Electric. His silent incandescent tungsten fixtures replaced the buzzing carbon arc lights of the silent film era almost overnight once sound film arrived. In 1935 the company introduced the Fresnel Solar Spot, an innovation that won the first of four Academy Awards the company would go on to receive. The company expanded to England in 1936, founding Mole-Richardson England Limited, the factory responsible for this fixture.

The unit still carries its original Bayerischer Rundfunk identification tag alongside its Mole-Richardson factory tag and original barndoors. It has been mounted on a vintage green wooden Bundeswehr surveyor tripod, though the Sputnik was also designed to stand freely on its own three legs.

The spotlight measures 40 x 55 x 70 cm. Mounted on the tripod, the total height adjusts from 173 to 245 cm. The fixture has been rewired and fitted with an E27 socket, approximately 3 meters of cord and an inline switch. This piece has an attribution mark,
I am sure that it is completely authentic and take full responsibility for any authenticity
issues arising from misattribution,
European Plug (up to 250V).The wiring of this item may be original and might need replacement, if not specified otherwise. See less