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Unfrosted light bulb
Can object complements make any difference to sentences?What does “in a sinister light” mean?Does 'for' here mean despite? and Does 'lightness' here mean light-minded?in an evolutionary lightfattening lightCorrect translation for the light switch for a websitewhat does “sip sign green-light” mean?To light a cigaretteWhat does “light” mean here?Need help in punctuation…!
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
|
show 11 more comments
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
12
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 18:09
5
Also, I think you'd almost certainly get sharper shadows in light from an unfrosted bulb. And I'm sure we all agree that "single point light sources + sharp shadows" are far more spooky than diffuse lights and softer shadows.
– FumbleFingers
Mar 17 at 18:18
13
If you believe you understand the meaning of "unfrost", you might be wrong. "Unfrost" isn't a valid English word. There is a word "defrost" which may be what you were thinking of, but "defrost-ed" doesn't have the same structure as "un-frosted".
– Mark Beadles
Mar 17 at 21:03
5
@FumbleFingers Where did I say unfrosted isn't a word?
– Mark Beadles
Mar 18 at 13:12
4
@MarkBeadles: Oops, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. On reflection I suppose there are an awful lot of perfectly natural unXXXed words where you'd struggle to defend to XXX as a valid verb (unwant, unabash, undispute,...).
– FumbleFingers
Mar 18 at 13:31
|
show 11 more comments
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
In Catch-22 there is following passage (my emphasis):
The unfrosted light bulb overhead was swinging crazily on its loose wire, and the jumbled black shadows kept swirling and bobbing chaotically, so that the entire tent seemed to be reeling.
Why is the light bulb "unfrosted"? I understand the meaning of "unfrost", but I don't understand how a light bulb can be unfrosted. Is this some metaphor?
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
meaning meaning-in-context american-english
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
asked Mar 17 at 18:02
Franz DrolligFranz Drollig
525415
525415
12
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 18:09
5
Also, I think you'd almost certainly get sharper shadows in light from an unfrosted bulb. And I'm sure we all agree that "single point light sources + sharp shadows" are far more spooky than diffuse lights and softer shadows.
– FumbleFingers
Mar 17 at 18:18
13
If you believe you understand the meaning of "unfrost", you might be wrong. "Unfrost" isn't a valid English word. There is a word "defrost" which may be what you were thinking of, but "defrost-ed" doesn't have the same structure as "un-frosted".
– Mark Beadles
Mar 17 at 21:03
5
@FumbleFingers Where did I say unfrosted isn't a word?
– Mark Beadles
Mar 18 at 13:12
4
@MarkBeadles: Oops, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. On reflection I suppose there are an awful lot of perfectly natural unXXXed words where you'd struggle to defend to XXX as a valid verb (unwant, unabash, undispute,...).
– FumbleFingers
Mar 18 at 13:31
|
show 11 more comments
12
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 18:09
5
Also, I think you'd almost certainly get sharper shadows in light from an unfrosted bulb. And I'm sure we all agree that "single point light sources + sharp shadows" are far more spooky than diffuse lights and softer shadows.
– FumbleFingers
Mar 17 at 18:18
13
If you believe you understand the meaning of "unfrost", you might be wrong. "Unfrost" isn't a valid English word. There is a word "defrost" which may be what you were thinking of, but "defrost-ed" doesn't have the same structure as "un-frosted".
– Mark Beadles
Mar 17 at 21:03
5
@FumbleFingers Where did I say unfrosted isn't a word?
– Mark Beadles
Mar 18 at 13:12
4
@MarkBeadles: Oops, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. On reflection I suppose there are an awful lot of perfectly natural unXXXed words where you'd struggle to defend to XXX as a valid verb (unwant, unabash, undispute,...).
– FumbleFingers
Mar 18 at 13:31
12
12
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 18:09
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 18:09
5
5
Also, I think you'd almost certainly get sharper shadows in light from an unfrosted bulb. And I'm sure we all agree that "single point light sources + sharp shadows" are far more spooky than diffuse lights and softer shadows.
– FumbleFingers
Mar 17 at 18:18
Also, I think you'd almost certainly get sharper shadows in light from an unfrosted bulb. And I'm sure we all agree that "single point light sources + sharp shadows" are far more spooky than diffuse lights and softer shadows.
– FumbleFingers
Mar 17 at 18:18
13
13
If you believe you understand the meaning of "unfrost", you might be wrong. "Unfrost" isn't a valid English word. There is a word "defrost" which may be what you were thinking of, but "defrost-ed" doesn't have the same structure as "un-frosted".
– Mark Beadles
Mar 17 at 21:03
If you believe you understand the meaning of "unfrost", you might be wrong. "Unfrost" isn't a valid English word. There is a word "defrost" which may be what you were thinking of, but "defrost-ed" doesn't have the same structure as "un-frosted".
– Mark Beadles
Mar 17 at 21:03
5
5
@FumbleFingers Where did I say unfrosted isn't a word?
– Mark Beadles
Mar 18 at 13:12
@FumbleFingers Where did I say unfrosted isn't a word?
– Mark Beadles
Mar 18 at 13:12
4
4
@MarkBeadles: Oops, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. On reflection I suppose there are an awful lot of perfectly natural unXXXed words where you'd struggle to defend to XXX as a valid verb (unwant, unabash, undispute,...).
– FumbleFingers
Mar 18 at 13:31
@MarkBeadles: Oops, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. On reflection I suppose there are an awful lot of perfectly natural unXXXed words where you'd struggle to defend to XXX as a valid verb (unwant, unabash, undispute,...).
– FumbleFingers
Mar 18 at 13:31
|
show 11 more comments
4 Answers
4
active
oldest
votes
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted". Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
add a comment |
Image from Kyle Surges via Nitpicky Artist
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
5
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
1
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
3
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
7
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
6
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
add a comment |
Whilst we can agree about the literal meaning of frosted and unfrosted, the important part is what the significance would be in this context.
We need to look at the properties of these bulbs. Both lampshades and frosting made the light less harsh by making the shadows more diffuse. A lampshade would have given the most pleasant light, at the cost of (1) the lampshade, and (2) reduced efficiency as some light would be absorbed, leading to higher running costs. A frosted bulb would have had the same two effects, to a lesser extent.
This bulb (which clearly had no shade as it was just on a wire) was therefore the cheapest option, in terms of both capital and running costs. So we get a sense of cheapness.
But we also get a sense of atmosphere, as these moving shadows, caused by the swinging bulb would have been much more noticeable, detailed and distracting from this unshaded, unfrosted bulb. Even a small movement would lead to moving sharp patterns on the wall, that would not occur with a frosted bulb.
Addition in response to comment: since the bulb is in a tent it is quite possible it is battery powered. This would accentuate the power-saving aspect. Further, a low-powered bulb is likely. This would have had a physically smaller filament and made the shadows even sharper. Since everything would be close together, it would be easy to see a lot of detail, even fingers and locks of hair in the moving shadows on the walls of the tent.
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
add a comment |
Just another picture to illustrate more on what the other answers say (showing when the bulb is lit)
"Frosted" diffuse the light from the filament to give a more even light, or in the case of more modern bulbs the glowing phosphorescent may be coated on the glass
"Unfrosted" - The glass is transparent, giving it a more vintage appearance
Though this an actually vintage bulb still going (the Centennial Light)!
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
1
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
1
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
add a comment |
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4 Answers
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active
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4 Answers
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active
oldest
votes
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votes
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted". Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
add a comment |
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted". Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
add a comment |
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted". Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
It means the light bulb that is "not frosted". Frosted glass is translucent(semi transparent).
So it refers to a clear(transparent) glass bulb where you can see the filament.
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
edited Mar 18 at 18:42
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
answered Mar 17 at 18:32
yenkaykayyenkaykay
38616
38616
add a comment |
add a comment |
Image from Kyle Surges via Nitpicky Artist
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
5
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
1
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
3
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
7
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
6
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
add a comment |
Image from Kyle Surges via Nitpicky Artist
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
5
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
1
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
3
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
7
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
6
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
add a comment |
Image from Kyle Surges via Nitpicky Artist
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
Image from Kyle Surges via Nitpicky Artist
A frosted light bulb (l) is one with a translucent white coating sprayed on the interior surface which diffuses the light. Earlier incandescent bulbs were all made of clear glass, i.e. unfrosted (r). Frosted bulbs came on the American market in the 1920s.
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
edited Mar 20 at 8:38
Andrew Leach♦
80k8154258
80k8154258
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
answered Mar 17 at 20:36
KarlGKarlG
22.6k63261
22.6k63261
5
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
1
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
3
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
7
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
6
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
add a comment |
5
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
1
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
3
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
7
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
6
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
5
5
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
Unfrosted lights also cast "harsher" shadows with sharper edges. Frosted lights produce soft natural shadows more similar to those produced outdoors on a sunny day. Shadow softness is also a subconscious visual cue as to an object's distance, so a hard shadow in a small space creates cognitive dissonance, with at least one signal indicating the environment must be extremely large. These factors contribute to the mood of the scene referenced in the book.
– MooseBoys
Mar 18 at 5:52
1
1
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
I think the frosting is not a spray, but a rough surface on the inside of the glass.
– Martin Bonner
Mar 18 at 12:14
3
3
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
@MartinBonner I'm pretty sure you can clean the frosting right off of a lightbulb from the inside. It's probably far cheaper to just mass produce the clear lightbulbs and then blast some of them with a quick shot of some coating.
– JMac
Mar 18 at 14:13
7
7
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
I have filed a hole in a frosted bulb to fill it with colored water. Can confirm the frosting just washes right out. Also if the filament breaks, you can shake it around and easily "scratch"off the coating.
– JPhi1618
Mar 18 at 15:19
6
6
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
@MartinBonner Originally frosted lightbulbs were etched in an acid bath. Modern ones are (mostly?) coated. See en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marvin_Pipkin
– Konrad Rudolph
Mar 18 at 16:29
add a comment |
Whilst we can agree about the literal meaning of frosted and unfrosted, the important part is what the significance would be in this context.
We need to look at the properties of these bulbs. Both lampshades and frosting made the light less harsh by making the shadows more diffuse. A lampshade would have given the most pleasant light, at the cost of (1) the lampshade, and (2) reduced efficiency as some light would be absorbed, leading to higher running costs. A frosted bulb would have had the same two effects, to a lesser extent.
This bulb (which clearly had no shade as it was just on a wire) was therefore the cheapest option, in terms of both capital and running costs. So we get a sense of cheapness.
But we also get a sense of atmosphere, as these moving shadows, caused by the swinging bulb would have been much more noticeable, detailed and distracting from this unshaded, unfrosted bulb. Even a small movement would lead to moving sharp patterns on the wall, that would not occur with a frosted bulb.
Addition in response to comment: since the bulb is in a tent it is quite possible it is battery powered. This would accentuate the power-saving aspect. Further, a low-powered bulb is likely. This would have had a physically smaller filament and made the shadows even sharper. Since everything would be close together, it would be easy to see a lot of detail, even fingers and locks of hair in the moving shadows on the walls of the tent.
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
add a comment |
Whilst we can agree about the literal meaning of frosted and unfrosted, the important part is what the significance would be in this context.
We need to look at the properties of these bulbs. Both lampshades and frosting made the light less harsh by making the shadows more diffuse. A lampshade would have given the most pleasant light, at the cost of (1) the lampshade, and (2) reduced efficiency as some light would be absorbed, leading to higher running costs. A frosted bulb would have had the same two effects, to a lesser extent.
This bulb (which clearly had no shade as it was just on a wire) was therefore the cheapest option, in terms of both capital and running costs. So we get a sense of cheapness.
But we also get a sense of atmosphere, as these moving shadows, caused by the swinging bulb would have been much more noticeable, detailed and distracting from this unshaded, unfrosted bulb. Even a small movement would lead to moving sharp patterns on the wall, that would not occur with a frosted bulb.
Addition in response to comment: since the bulb is in a tent it is quite possible it is battery powered. This would accentuate the power-saving aspect. Further, a low-powered bulb is likely. This would have had a physically smaller filament and made the shadows even sharper. Since everything would be close together, it would be easy to see a lot of detail, even fingers and locks of hair in the moving shadows on the walls of the tent.
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
add a comment |
Whilst we can agree about the literal meaning of frosted and unfrosted, the important part is what the significance would be in this context.
We need to look at the properties of these bulbs. Both lampshades and frosting made the light less harsh by making the shadows more diffuse. A lampshade would have given the most pleasant light, at the cost of (1) the lampshade, and (2) reduced efficiency as some light would be absorbed, leading to higher running costs. A frosted bulb would have had the same two effects, to a lesser extent.
This bulb (which clearly had no shade as it was just on a wire) was therefore the cheapest option, in terms of both capital and running costs. So we get a sense of cheapness.
But we also get a sense of atmosphere, as these moving shadows, caused by the swinging bulb would have been much more noticeable, detailed and distracting from this unshaded, unfrosted bulb. Even a small movement would lead to moving sharp patterns on the wall, that would not occur with a frosted bulb.
Addition in response to comment: since the bulb is in a tent it is quite possible it is battery powered. This would accentuate the power-saving aspect. Further, a low-powered bulb is likely. This would have had a physically smaller filament and made the shadows even sharper. Since everything would be close together, it would be easy to see a lot of detail, even fingers and locks of hair in the moving shadows on the walls of the tent.
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
Whilst we can agree about the literal meaning of frosted and unfrosted, the important part is what the significance would be in this context.
We need to look at the properties of these bulbs. Both lampshades and frosting made the light less harsh by making the shadows more diffuse. A lampshade would have given the most pleasant light, at the cost of (1) the lampshade, and (2) reduced efficiency as some light would be absorbed, leading to higher running costs. A frosted bulb would have had the same two effects, to a lesser extent.
This bulb (which clearly had no shade as it was just on a wire) was therefore the cheapest option, in terms of both capital and running costs. So we get a sense of cheapness.
But we also get a sense of atmosphere, as these moving shadows, caused by the swinging bulb would have been much more noticeable, detailed and distracting from this unshaded, unfrosted bulb. Even a small movement would lead to moving sharp patterns on the wall, that would not occur with a frosted bulb.
Addition in response to comment: since the bulb is in a tent it is quite possible it is battery powered. This would accentuate the power-saving aspect. Further, a low-powered bulb is likely. This would have had a physically smaller filament and made the shadows even sharper. Since everything would be close together, it would be easy to see a lot of detail, even fingers and locks of hair in the moving shadows on the walls of the tent.
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
edited Mar 18 at 21:50
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
answered Mar 17 at 23:16
David RobinsonDavid Robinson
2,587216
2,587216
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
add a comment |
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Note that this light bulb was in a tent - so it may even have been battery powered. Also, in a tent, any wind would cause the bulb to be "swinging crazily on its loose wire".
– TrevorD
Mar 17 at 23:28
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
Thank you, @TrevorD. I have added to my answer in response.
– David Robinson
Mar 18 at 21:51
add a comment |
Just another picture to illustrate more on what the other answers say (showing when the bulb is lit)
"Frosted" diffuse the light from the filament to give a more even light, or in the case of more modern bulbs the glowing phosphorescent may be coated on the glass
"Unfrosted" - The glass is transparent, giving it a more vintage appearance
Though this an actually vintage bulb still going (the Centennial Light)!
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
1
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
1
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
add a comment |
Just another picture to illustrate more on what the other answers say (showing when the bulb is lit)
"Frosted" diffuse the light from the filament to give a more even light, or in the case of more modern bulbs the glowing phosphorescent may be coated on the glass
"Unfrosted" - The glass is transparent, giving it a more vintage appearance
Though this an actually vintage bulb still going (the Centennial Light)!
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
1
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
1
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
add a comment |
Just another picture to illustrate more on what the other answers say (showing when the bulb is lit)
"Frosted" diffuse the light from the filament to give a more even light, or in the case of more modern bulbs the glowing phosphorescent may be coated on the glass
"Unfrosted" - The glass is transparent, giving it a more vintage appearance
Though this an actually vintage bulb still going (the Centennial Light)!
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
Just another picture to illustrate more on what the other answers say (showing when the bulb is lit)
"Frosted" diffuse the light from the filament to give a more even light, or in the case of more modern bulbs the glowing phosphorescent may be coated on the glass
"Unfrosted" - The glass is transparent, giving it a more vintage appearance
Though this an actually vintage bulb still going (the Centennial Light)!
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
edited Mar 21 at 0:03
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
answered Mar 20 at 21:54
WilfWilf
1114
1114
1
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
1
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
add a comment |
1
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
1
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
1
1
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Welcome to ELU. Please add citations to your photos (even if you took them yourself, the world needs to know that).
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 20 at 22:20
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
Is that ok @AndrewLeach ? I'm fairly sure I searched for without copyright but these wikimedia images have more obvious details
– Wilf
Mar 21 at 0:04
1
1
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
It's not a question of copyright infringement (this sort of quoting is almost always fair use); it's simply necessary to give credit to the source. This is in the help pages on every SE site; because ELU frequently brings in external corroboratve quotes, we have a number of Meta questions about it too.
– Andrew Leach♦
Mar 21 at 7:24
add a comment |
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12
It means a light bulb without a "frosted" surface, so that the glass bulb is clear and you can see the filament inside. images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/…
– Hot Licks
Mar 17 at 18:09
5
Also, I think you'd almost certainly get sharper shadows in light from an unfrosted bulb. And I'm sure we all agree that "single point light sources + sharp shadows" are far more spooky than diffuse lights and softer shadows.
– FumbleFingers
Mar 17 at 18:18
13
If you believe you understand the meaning of "unfrost", you might be wrong. "Unfrost" isn't a valid English word. There is a word "defrost" which may be what you were thinking of, but "defrost-ed" doesn't have the same structure as "un-frosted".
– Mark Beadles
Mar 17 at 21:03
5
@FumbleFingers Where did I say unfrosted isn't a word?
– Mark Beadles
Mar 18 at 13:12
4
@MarkBeadles: Oops, sorry. I wasn't paying attention. On reflection I suppose there are an awful lot of perfectly natural unXXXed words where you'd struggle to defend to XXX as a valid verb (unwant, unabash, undispute,...).
– FumbleFingers
Mar 18 at 13:31