Strand
Pattern 243BP Fresnel Spot - Cutaway
Strand's first in-house designed 2KW Fresnel with rotating barndoors, was aimed at the expanding Television market. The distinctive lamphouse was used on Pattern 293 followspot and Pattern 252 projector.
Strand’s Patt 243 Fresnel is a working classic, with countless examples still in use today. It was designed, like those two other classic Strand fixtures - the Patt 23 baby spotlight and Patt 123 baby Fresnel - by Morgan ‘Mac’ McLeod, who came to Strand after working with them on the remarkable Torpedo Attack Teachers (theatrical lighting adapted to create early fl ight simulators) before and during World War II. The 243 saw McLeod continue to bring modern mass-production techniques to Strand, here steel pressings rather than the die castings on the baby spotlights. The fixture has a distinctive look, with its rounded-edge rectangular casing and 10 ventilation slots; the same body would later be used as the lamphouse for the Patt 293 followspot and Patt 252 eff ects projector. On the 243, the front panel housing the almost 10” lens hinges open for lamp changing. Strand intended theatre to use the fixture with a 1kW lamp; the 2kW version was meant for TV. For the opening of the National Theatre in 1976, ten of these lights even became moving lights, fi tted to Pani yokes.
This cutaway formed part of a memorable foyer display at Strand Electric HQ, King Street, London, circa 1965.
Documents & Photos
Photo: Cutaway Patt.243 on display for Strand 100th Anniversary at PLASA 5 October 2014 (October 2014)
From Jim Laws Collection
Click thumbnail to enlarge
Photo: Cutaway Patt.243 on display for Strand 100th Anniversary at PLASA 5 October 2014 (October 2014)
From Jim Laws Collection
Click thumbnail to enlarge
Photo: Cutaway Patt.243 on display for Strand 100th Anniversary at PLASA 5 October 2014 (October 2014)
From Jim Laws Collection
Click thumbnail to enlarge
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Full details about Patt.243 (1960-1978)