Don't throw that lightbulb away! I think it may be the one that went on
over Mr. Hoover's head and was then used in numerous cartoon sequences on
TV. A valuable find. Since it doesn't have a number you don't have to
deacession - I'll bet Christies could find a spot in their next auction.

Bill Low
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>
> Hello all. >
> We've had the unfortunate experience of having found a small light bulb
> in our collection in a small cardboard typewriter ribbon box ( It's a GE
> 15w 120v bulb and about 3" long).  It has no accession number on it and
> we cannot find any such object in our card catalog.  I'm sure we're the
> only museum ever that's found unnumbered objects on a shelf in the
> collection, right?  :-)
>
> Anyway, we need to determine if it's a museum piece or a small light bulb
> that somebody took out of an exhibit case and set on a shelf.  Have light
> bulbs changed since, say 1930 or 1950, in any way that's noticeable to
> the average person?
>
> Perhaps it could be a bulb that lights the dial on a BIG radio or something
> like that, but there's no documentation of it with any of the possible
> electronic items in our collections, so I'm thinking all we can do is assume
> that it's a museum piece and catalog it with a new number and the note
> "of unknown origin--found in the collection" and hope someone figures it
> out someday.  Any advice?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Chris.
>
> Christine Mouw
> Assistant Curator
> Herbert Hoover Presidential Library-Museum
> West Branch, Iowa  52358
> [log in to unmask]
>