One very important thing sometimes overlooked: use only low-wattage
bulbs, 25 watts or less. A friend of mine had a 100-watt bulb in his
nickelodeon. He was out in his garden when the neighbor alerted him
that smoke was emitting from the garage display room.
First, the bulb remained on (not when just playing). Secondly, the
heat build up was enough to ignite the felt hammers with the result
that it produced a charcoal broiled nickelodeon. Many other
instruments were burned and water damaged.
Old carbon filament bulbs produce considerably more heat than present
day bulbs. The bulb remains on when Mills Violanos are not playing and
this excessive heat can craze the varnish on the violin.
Greg Filardo
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