Polished Strand Electric Patt 23N Theatre Spotlight Floor Lamp | 1960s Mid-Century Stage Light on Chrome Tripod
Polished Strand Electric Patt 23N Theatre Spotlight Floor Lamp | 1960s Mid-Century Stage Light on Chrome Tripod
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A Strand Electric Patt 23N from the 1960s, fully polished and rewired, on a chrome tripod. The 23N is the larger sibling of the classic Patt 23, with a bigger lens tube and a tighter beam. This one has a domed glass lens, comes with a bulb, and the whole spotlight is adjustable so the beam can be aimed where you want it. It stands 115 cm tall in a single fixed height.
At a glance
| Manufacturer | Strand Electric, London |
|---|---|
| Model | Patt 23N, the larger version of the Patt 23 with a long lens tube |
| Origin | Made in England |
| Produced | 1960s |
| Finish | Fully polished |
| Lens | Domed (plano-convex) glass lens |
| Condition | Renovated. A small area at the front was damaged in the past and has been repaired, see the note below |
| Wiring | Rewired, E27 fitting, approx. 3 m (9.8 ft) cord with inline switch and EU plug |
| Bulb | Included. Takes any standard E27 LED or incandescent bulb |
| Adjustment | The whole spotlight is adjustable on the tripod |
| Tripod | Chrome tripod, fixed height (not adjustable) |
| Spotlight dimensions | 42 x 28 x 33 cm (16.5" x 11.0" x 13.0") |
| Total height | 115 cm (45.3") |
| Availability | One of one, once sold this exact piece will not return |
| Import duty | Payable by the buyer in their own country (outside the EU) |
The story
The Patt 23 was introduced by Strand Electric in 1953 and stayed in production until 1983. It was designed by Morgan McLeod, and its compact profile spotlight, with front and rear reflectors that squeeze a lot of light from a small lamp, made it a workhorse of British theatres, schools and television studios. The Patt 23N is its larger sibling. Instead of the standard 3.5 inch lens it carries a 6 inch lens, which narrows the beam from about 22 degrees to about 11 degrees and makes the unit a little heavier, at around 3.9 kg. That tight beam made it a popular follow spot, a light operated by hand to pick out a performer as they move across the stage.
The restoration
This 23N has been polished all the way, so the bare metal gives it a bright, mirror-like finish. We rewired it with an E27 fitting, about 3 metres of cord, an inline switch and an EU plug, and a bulb is included. It sits on a chrome tripod at a single fixed height of 115 cm, and the whole spotlight can be adjusted to aim the beam. The finish and the tripod match, which gives the lamp a clean, cool look.
A note on condition
In the interest of transparency: a small area at the front of the spotlight was damaged at some point in its past. This has been repaired. Please look at the photos of the front before buying.
In your interior
At 115 cm it is a compact floor lamp, ideal beside a sofa or an armchair, on a landing, or in a corner of a studio or a restaurant. The polished metal reflects its surroundings, and the narrow beam can wash a wall or pick out a plant, a picture or a seat.