Light bulb for K-Line Bubbling Water Tower

adubillOGR Forum Member

I have a K-Line bubbling water tower on my layout. It takes a slam on the layout to finally start it bubbling--waiting forever does not make it start and tapping the side of the glass tube has never worked. Recently the bulb broke. It was a bayonet base and the glass was covered with a silver colored material of some kind (perhaps to make heat to start it bubbling).

Would anyone know where to obtain that particular light bulb with silver glass? I have been told to use a 14 watt #430 (a common 14 watt bulb) but that does not work well. Another person suggested a 5 watt #1893--anyone know where to obtain one of those?

Any suggestions would be welcome. Thanks. andy

12/17/1811:47 AM

❤️ 0

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

FMCOGR Forum Member

Andy. Try Optech in Andover, Massachusetts. They have a great selection of hard to find bulbs. If you google that you will find a phone number.

12/17/1812:17 PM

❤️ 1

harmonyardsOGR Forum Member

Andy, the bulb doesn’t have a silver glass, what your seeing is a blown bulb....sometimes when a bulb blows out, it smoke up inside the globe, this is the silver effect you are seeing....no crazy special bulb.....Pat

12/17/182:48 PM

❤️ 0

ÜberstationmeisterOGR Forum Member

I use an 1893, you can find them at your local auto parts store.

The silver is actually the tungsten filament slowly evaporating and condensing on the inside of the glass over time. This effect is particularly noticeable on overdriven or high power bulbs.

12/17/183:06 PM

❤️ 1

adubillOGR Forum Member

Thank you all for the replys--I appreciate you taking time to assist. I went to an auto parts store and bought the 1893 bulb and it is again bubbling! Thanks. andy

12/20/1811:47 PM

❤️ 1