Identification of Fidenza Vetraria POLARIS/TIROS/LTx

[GabryJ84]

Good Morning,
thanks to a retired person that worked in a company involved in public lighting (installations & such), I'm able to disclose the product definition of FIDENZA VETRARIA POLARIS, TIROS and LTx, so that the site can be updated accordingly (there is a bit of a mess since no catalogues exist).

POLARIS/TIROS pole mounted

The first product in the family of POLARIS is POLARIS version D (as labelled in the database). This is the first version of the product and the one without ballast. It was produced in early '50 and a TIROS version also existed. (The difference between POLARIS and TIROS is the reflector that is wider in POLARS than in TIROS).

That early version was accompanied and later superseded by POLARIS version A (and corresponding TIROS 1 incurvee). These two versions came in late '50 and existed since the early '70. They were equipped with ballast but didn't have compatible replacement to each other since the body and the reflector were riveted together (they were not detachable from each other).

The oil shock of '73 called out for costs to be cut and in that occurrance, POLARIS version B (and corresponding TIROS 1 droit) were concieved. (POLARIS version C is exactly the same thing of POLARIS B, the only difference is maybe the year of production, but the product is identical and should be labelled in a unique manner). The main difference with its predecessor is the fact that the reflector is no more riveted to the body, but a butterfly screew makes them detachable from each other. The body was patented by FIDENZA VETRARIA and will be used on other products like the LTx family.

POLARIS/TIROS suspended

The known part of the story begins with POLARIS S type 3 (and corresponding TIROS which is not in the database) (POLARIS type 2 is exactly the same thing of POLARIS typs 3, no differences between them) which were produced in the middle '50 and existed since early '70. They were available in two versions only one of which is present in the database. The first version is the one in the pictures (type 3) and was used in derivation installations, the second one, whose only difference is the "hat" of the ballast container, was used with installation in series and can be found here (note the ceramic insulators on both sides).

With the oil shock of '73 POLARIS S/TIROS S went into redesign as their pole mounted counterparts. FIDENZA VETRARIA patented the design and POLARIS S type 1 (and corresponding TIROS S) were born. They share the same detachability mechanism of the respective pole mounted products (the reflectors are identical).

This is the whole story.

As for the salvagement, the early POLARIS and TIROS are extinct. The '50-'60 POLARIS/TIROS have been salvaged. The latest POLARIS/TIROS have been salvaged. The '50-'60 POLARIS S/TIROS S have been salvaged for the series version. The derivation version is still under research. The latest POLARIS S/TIROS S have been salvaged as well.

[Phozagora]

Hi !

POLARIS/TIROS pole mounted

The first product in the family of POLARIS is POLARIS version D (as labelled in the database). This is the first version of the product and the one without ballast. It was produced in early '50 and a TIROS version also existed. (The difference between POLARIS and TIROS is the reflector that is wider in POLARS than in TIROS).

OK I am not surprised, such an installation seemed to be the oldest one among all these generations.

I am just a little bit surprised that they told you it was produced in early '50. In general, luminaires which allowed an horizontal disposition of the lamp appeared in late 50's (early mercury vapour lamps worked better when they had a verticap disposition).

That early version was accompanied and later superseded by POLARIS version A (and corresponding TIROS 1 incurvee). These two versions came in late '50 and existed since the early '70. They were equipped with ballast but didn't have compatible replacement to each other since the body and the reflector were riveted together (they were not detachable from each other).

The oil shock of '73 called out for costs to be cut and in that occurrance, POLARIS version B (and corresponding TIROS 1 droit) were concieved. (POLARIS version C is exactly the same thing of POLARIS B, the only difference is maybe the year of production, but the product is identical and should be labelled in a unique manner). The main difference with its predecessor is the fact that the reflector is no more riveted to the body, but a butterfly screew makes them detachable from each other. The body was patented by FIDENZA VETRARIA and will be used on other products like the LTx family.

OK so :

- First version : Polaris type D. / Tiros version which has never been photographed.
- Second version : Polaris type A / Tiros 1
- Third version : Polaris type B & C / Tiros 1 droit (from 1973).

POLARIS/TIROS suspended

The known part of the story begins with POLARIS S type 3 (and corresponding TIROS which is not in the database) (POLARIS type 2 is exactly the same thing of POLARIS typs 3, no differences between them) which were produced in the middle '50 and existed since early '70. They were available in two versions only one of which is present in the database. The first version is the one in the pictures (type 3) and was used in derivation installations, the second one, whose only difference is the "hat" of the ballast container, was used with installation in series and can be found here (note the ceramic insulators on both sides).

With the oil shock of '73 POLARIS S/TIROS S went into redesign as their pole mounted counterparts. FIDENZA VETRARIA patented the design and POLARIS S type 1 (and corresponding TIROS S) were born. They share the same detachability mechanism of the respective pole mounted products (the reflectors are identical).

This is the whole story.

OK so :

- First version : Polaris type S2 & S3. / Tiros version which has never been photographed.
- Second version : Polaris type S1 / Tiros S (from 1973).

As for the salvagement, the early POLARIS and TIROS are extinct. The '50-'60 POLARIS/TIROS have been salvaged. The latest POLARIS/TIROS have been salvaged. The '50-'60 POLARIS S/TIROS S have been salvaged for the series version. The derivation version is still under research. The latest POLARIS S/TIROS S have been salvaged as well.

OK thank you very much for all these informations and for the whole story.

I'll update the website with these informations.