Tungsten tubelight/ropelight construction. (long and rambly)

A look at the construction of the earliest tube light / rope light.
This video was originally going to be short, but ended up going off on a huge tangent because I realised that the Glasgow George Square Xmas lights I worked with for over 20 years were the FIRST xmas lights to use tubelight! I knew they had caused a sensation when they were first unveiled and inspired a lot of other cities around the world, but I didn't realise they were pretty much the prototypes for the future construction of Xmas lighting frames.
It also made me realise how unique and complicated the original George Square Xmas light "spectacular" was, and how it evolved over time electrically. All just stuff I took for granted because it was just "one of my jobs". This year (2016) the original lights were replaced by standard flat, white, unanimated LED frames. It feels strange. Like the end of an era.
If you enjoy these videos you can help support the channel with a dollar for coffee, cookies and random gadgets for disassembly at:-
www.bigclive.co...

[@getcartercarpark8744]

Long and rambly = good and enjoyable, it is so good to hear how things were done, not by an onlooker, but by someone who has actually done it! Clive; Please please, more videos of reminiscing about how and what things were done.....! Thank you. K Watt.

[@Peter_S_]

_"because nothing replaces neon. If you want neon, get neon."_ Amen.

[@davidprice2861]

Yes neon is the best for a mains indicator, I like the glow from it. No cap dropper etc, simple.

[@berndeckenfels]

David neon tube lamps are much more pretty, but really inconvinient to make... especially if you want to be compliant ,)

[@alexanderfrith4697]

Why do I feel like Clive would have loved the pre LED Hong Kong. So many awesome neon signs

[@johnalexander2349]

Big Clive, you make in-depth videos on the most arbitrary crap. They're always interesting and awesome. Thank you. Please never stop.

[@daanwilmer]

Long and rambly? Yes please!

[@AttilaAsztalos]

Thoroughly enjoyable tech-history lesson - but the thing that really makes it work? His enthusiasm is contagious... :)

[@thewhitefalcon8539]

Just remember, it was basically the dawn of the industry. (He says this way too many times in the video)

[@HarryoGaming]

It is very chill to listen to

[@blameTECHIE]

Only just found this vid - thought I'd watched everything, but I love the background to how things work and the effort taken to keep them going - can't help but wonder when we might see Clive filling the TV gap left by Fred Dibnah

[@d0cjkl]

"Not in Scottish weather, they frickin' well weren't!" That is the best Christmas gift I could ever ask for. lol

[@JordyValentine]

I think you deserve some royalties from that stock photo ;)

[@bigclivedotcom]

In hindsight, I actually quite like that picture. I'm glad the photographer took it.

[@JordyValentine]

bigclivedotcom Maybe just a free copy, minus the watermark then haha. You could try telling them it's you and asking for a copy

[@Plokman040]

I agree.

[@48snapper]

Just sitting down to watch lots of telly. Then the email came in about this video. Long and rambly yes - but also fascinating and historically extremely interesting. Season's Greetings Clive.

[@phils4634]

Haven't watched "broadcast" TV for years. We live far to far from "civilisation" to receive terrestrial service, and we can't be bothered to connect via National Broadband, so it's either out (pretty OK) collection of DVDs or whatever's of interest via the Internet - i.e. KZbin! :P)

[@spudhead169]

A nice long rambly video is always welcome. Don't take this the wrong way Clive, but your videos are awesome to fall asleep to. Your voice is just so relaxing to listen to.

[@jlucasound]

I Love Long and Rambly!! As long as it is you, Clive, talking about electrical/electronic subjects! Or anything else you want to share. Thanks, Clive.

[@DiaconescuAlexandru2024]

I really like to hear some electrician from Scotland ramble about his years in the Christmas light industry. These long videos with ramblings are great and I never get tired of them !

[@brianjrichman]

CLIVE!!!! I saw your handiwork in the mid 1980's!!!!! I used to work for a certain computer vendor that had a contract at a particular government department who had a large office in what was back then not a not particularly "salubrious" part of the western end of Sauchiehall Street in Glasgow. All I'll say about that is whenever we delivered some equipment to the building in question, we needed to ask the ladies that worked the space behind the loading dock to "move along". ANYWAY... I do recall seeing the Christmas decorations up in central Glasgow. Awesome work. Such a memory from 30 years ago.

[@FroggyMosh]

I had to re-read the 'working ladies' part a couple times. Then it hit me that 'a certain kind of profession' is still illegal and looked down on in large portions of the world. Greetings from the Netherlands.

[@mactheknife4786]

Certainly not illegal in the U.K. T&Cs apply, see in store for details.

[@peckelhaze6934]

A very interesting story and a great picture of those lights. Thanks for sharing this.

[@Jeff121456]

The ramblings of a mad man. I learn loads from "war stories." Hope you have a pleasant Yule.

[@july8xx]

This has to be one of the most interesting and entertaining videos that I have seen in years. Clive please make more of these with your rambling memories, they are so interesting.

[@hrnekbezucha]

These rambly videos are perfect for getting projects done. Soldered my first 18650 power bank brick from 15 cells with the humble 936 station and it didn't end up in flames. Not yet, we'll see what the cold joints will do in an amp of load.

[@jimbohsp]

Had a bad experience wiring some DMX controlled lighting for a gym chain. Nothing worked right from the get-go. After hours upon hours of troubleshooting, calls to their "expert" tech support, days of returning to each location and having my employer question my abilities as an electrician - I finally found the issue. Bad solder joints in the cheap chinese DMX cables. It was a pain to troubleshoot because they only sent the exact quantity of cables needed and some fixtures would only work intermittently. The chain's DMX expert kept telling me "it cant be the fixtures or the cables, they're all brand new". After swapping stuff all around and finding the bad cables I unscrewed the ends and being the jack of all electrical trades I am, soldered those suckers up real good. I got to leave the job 100% with my dignity intact. What I learned is that especially when you have 10+ years into a trade, don't listen to someone when they say the problem CANT POSSIBLY be a batch of bad parts. I've opened cases of lamps and ballasts that were all DOA. Manufacturer defects happen more often than not.

[@grantrennie]

jimbohsp even the main players in the uk lighting market send out messed up lights and forcefully deny that they can be defective as they are all brand new and factory inspected (wired up back to front) I see a lot of fittings with made in the UK on them, in the back are ballasts or led power driver modules labelled made in Serbia, China, Poland and Ukraine, the light enclosures are thin sharp aluminium pop riveted or quickly spot welded or even just twisted and crimped with the thinnest white spray paint coating and reflectors are super thin plastic with a quick vacuum deposition silver chrome coated layer, they fall apart out of the shipping box

[@HuntersMoon78]

Big Clive A.K.A. The Hands Of Knowledge

[@masonchapman148]

Probably one of my most enjoyable videos you've ever done Big Clive. I love the long and rambly yet extremely interesting and informative videos... More Please!

[@Gazgit555]

One of your best vids . I'm sure many will agree ! A Great story , told really well . Thanks for putting so much time and effort into your vids through the year . Happy Christmas

[@Ryzomadman]

I must admit I loved this video happy memories visiting the square to look at the lights has been a couple of years as I became a complete cluster F to get up and parked .

[@CRCinAU]

LOL.... 37 minutes.... and I sat here and watched it all...... about hacky installations.... Love it... :)

[@Carlg26]

Hay Clive Merry Christmas from Canada ... believe it or not .. I have these lights from the ninety's and they are still working. There out side in red white green and blue .. on my garden house. I live in Calgary in Chinook Weather .. meaning it could have two feet of snow at 22 below and within about an hour it could be plus six and the snow is gone. No problems yet. tis funny that on some of these one or two lights do burn out but not the whole strand .. amazing produce. Love the posts ... keep it up in 2017

[@09klx250t9f]

You mean like today? I a hoping it warms up this week!

[@maxbrown9649]

Fantastic video Clive, used to stay just off of George Square and man do I miss living in Glasgow. Found this very interesting.

[@bdot02]

I've come to realize from a few of your latest videos that you're kinda a big deal. You've worked on some really neat projects. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience with us here in KZbin.

[@peterradford3399]

Merry Christmas to you and your family Clive. Thanks for another year of entertainment it is well worth the cups of coffee

[@zx8401ztv]

Clive, it sounds like you really enjoyed working for harry, i like the sound of him, mad at times but he allways wanted an amazing look, no matter how hard it was to do. its such a shame that they put a plonker in control after him :-(, shame they didnt find someone like you to keep the lights amazing. I like the way the original rope lights were made, i like the bulbs and how they mounted. I cant see why modern cheap ones have to use external resistors, it would not be hard to encapsulate a resistor into the led, much like the way they often add a chip. A cleaner look with less connections, closer leds too :-). Smashing Video :-D.

[@edmundfisher4951]

Do a search on Google News for "george square christmas light", it looks like there has been some major issues as of late! Some of the headlines include: "Faulty lights leave Glasgow's George Square in the dark" "More problems with George Square Christmas lights" "Kevin McKenna's Diary on the eyesore that is George Square at Christmas"

[@leplum2001]

A very illuminating video Clive. :-) I really enjoyed it and give it a 9/10 on the inform and educate scale. You have a very pleasant listening to voice and it wasn't at all rambling. Nice to watch a fuller length historically based video. I encourage you to produce more of this ilk.

[@4ntig3n]

@bigclivedotcom Thank you for making this video. Good memories of the city I used to call home. Makes me wonder if I ever ran into you, while your work was shining bright up above. Next time I have a chance to visit in winter, I'll have a look at the new lights - but I definitely will always remember the lights you put up :) Very daunting to think that they were that heavy though.

[@rickybobby8563]

Gotta love memory lane!

[@diamaunt2782]

Merry Christmas, Sir Clive, and thank you for a wonderful, comfy rambly Christmas story to warm my day with, (even though it's 23c outside here in Texas).

[@FirstWizardZorander]

Thank you so much for your insight into such a monumental part of lighting history!

[@MrNateyTatey]

I love this video Clive, very in depth and interesting.

[@lostlullo]

Best one yet, don't be afraid of making long video's ;)

[@thomilo44]

This is honestly my favorite video you ever did. Can we have more storytime with Clive?

[@darrannewman7113]

What a wonderfull insight into what you used to do Clive , thank you.

[@bigclivedotcom]

I ain't stopped yet. But not on that job.

[@grendelum]

Having worked in the non-standard lighting industry for years, I really like the idea of wireframes painted with UV reactive paint lit with UV light, I imagine the result is spectacular !!! Many years ago for a Halloween show the band I run lights for was doing, I filled clear plastic tubing with UV dyed water and mounted it on black clothing to make a stick figure outline. I only attached the tubing in a few spots and left enough slack so as they moved the tubes became quite wiggly and animated... with a cold fogger and the several thousand watts of Wildfire UV wash lights the only source of illumination it created a very cool stick figure jam !!!

[@lwilton]

Merry Christmas Clive! Boy, that sure brought back memories of that non-neon stuff. Hadn't thought of it in years. I remember building up four sets of false pros that had between 3 and 5 strings of that stuff all the way around, plus a string of white frost G20 lamps around the inside edge, plus a whole bunch of scrollwork decoration in the fake neon tube. Didn't have as much trouble with contacts in outdoor displays. But then, it doesn't rain in Southern California. :-)

[@Gretchen1978]

Hey, Clive! i love your stories! thank you :)

[@greenmanreddog]

You are a most fascinating man Clive.

[@dashcamandy2242]

24:08 - "Peacockish." :-) Personally, I enjoy your rambly videos. Your stories are always enjoyable and richly informative, and I never knew George Square started the tube lighting display trend (which is still popular in the US)! Pretty cool stuff!

[@swake1822]

Merry Christmas Clive... thanks for all the videos, very entertaining and informative.

[@KarlBaron]

I liked the part at 5:00 where you slipped up and said string of LEDs instead of string of lights ;) Whatever. Fantastic video, Merry Christmas, your enthusiasm is infectious

[@ianharrison6597]

Excellent video and another example of how the prototype, or 'pioneer' build of an item gets the best of everything thrown at it. Also, another example, in human terms, of how different the imagination of the pioneering Harry was, to his probably very corporate successor. A touch of BBC Engineering (and doubtless many other industries in their pioneer era) history here...

[@georgestewart5879]

Great video Clive, I can remember the bells and the holly also the peacocks, really interesting to hear some of the history behind it.

[@Landrew0]

You're forgiven Clive :-) We'd all love to prattle a bit on our past accomplishments. My god, Dave Jones does it for hours.

[@Cosmic_Wizard]

I enjoyed every minute of this video Clive. Thanks for staying up so late (or early lol) for making it. Have a great Christmas :D

[@hoiyue9987]

Top story mate - Merry Christmas and a prosperous and peaceful new year to you and yours!

[@tomp016]

long video but well worth the watch as was very interesting historically and seasonal :)

[@hgbugalou]

Merry Christmas Clive! Looking forward to the taking to bits of things in 2017.

[@gtb81.]

i love how you know the guy who invented it and was a part of the whole thing, absolutely brilliant!! also you seemed a bit cross there at 5:54 xD

[@jguth6]

such an interesting video clive. I know nothing about electrics being a hydraulic engineer but I love how you explain the construction and the different iterations.

[@annelisemeier283]

Guth no offense but how did you manage to do that without a clue about electricity ?

[@jguth6]

how did i do what? how did i enjoy the video? I meant i enjoyed his explanation of the physical construction of the lights, i do some welding/fabrication. Im an engineer, i enjoy learning and seeing how things are physically constructed. I Switched off at 28 mins when the electricity talk started. I just meant purely on the physical construction side and Clives personal stories. or how did I become an engineer? I became an engineer by doing engineer things and getting the sparkies to do the electrical work...?

[@Screwy9758]

Nice one Clive! Yet again Clive's 'Pathe' news. More interesting than the rubbish on T.V. & love your stuff. Happy Easter! ;-)

[@mikewolf78]

26:20 witness a magnificent piece of art being created

[@twocvbloke]

It's amazing to think how the tube lighting suddenly sprang up everywhere, cos even though I'm only 31, I still remember the lackluster cheap tungsten filament lighting used by councils, then all of a sudden, they used tube-light displays which were much brighter and more interesting, so you're a part of illumination history there... :) And KZbin's new algorithm makes long videos more profitable than short ones, so, make 'em long and they'll pay more, cos youtube is now a TV service, apparently... :P

[@WillToWinvlog]

Hey Clive, you had me at "rambly"

[@MrGoatflakes]

Awesome! I would have loved to see the fluorescent angel!

[@ethreal1]

Love the Alamy photo spot

[@flamshiz]

you know, I'm starting to think Glasgow might have had the first ever tube light Christmas lights

[@bigclivedotcom]

It did.

[@RoelNicky]

your best set of schematics to date !

[@iainbanachowicz8318]

I still own that style of non neon. It is amazing to see one of them stripped down. I had a clear tube with a coloured tungsten lamp which was grouped in 3's

[@weirdscix]

Peacock? It looked more like a mutant duck! Love your videos, they have inspired me to get back into electronics, have a Great Xmas and a fantastic 2017

[@DreStyle]

nice video! thanks! really loved the story! merry Christmas

[@pinokotsbeer6453]

Thanks for shaing a great story! :)

[@sazman2000]

Merry Christmas , keep making these fantastic videos,

[@jdflyback]

Wow, I never thought of Christmas tube lights as an architecture element.

[@iainbanachowicz8318]

I had a look at the images of the george square xmas lights and that is something I would love to do. I have done so much lighting design work in theatre and concerts but not on public display and it is one thing on my bucket list. To design and rig an amazing light show for people to see but not take any credit for it, just lurk in the shadows while people enjoy the work which has been laid in front of them.

[@mmmlinux]

Thanks for another great video. Happy Christmas Clive.

[@mehashi]

The way you say "municipal" blows my mind :p

[@EastyUK]

My home town is Blackpool. Not seen the Lights for a while. Never end up going back to coincide with them being on. Live in Seattle now. Interesting video cheers.

[@shuriKen469]

that peacock has seen things maaan! mostly lights, but hwat an imagination!!

[@matthewbeddow3278]

This is a wonderful video , brilliant absolutely brilliant Thanks Clive Regarding the metal straps on the poles I am wondering if the poles were Zinc Galvanised and they were worried that Galvanic corrosion would occur ?

[@daShare]

I remember repairing tube lights (the hollow kind) back in the early 80s'. Drag the whole set out of the tube, replace some lamps and drag it all back into the tube while hoping that more hadn't died in the meantime.

[@bennylloyd-willner9667]

Long and rambly, that's what I want :)

[@kargaroc386]

I always remember the segment at 12:13 but this is a great video

[@IanDarley]

Very interesting video, thanks Clive.

[@Zyxxi]

New Clive drinking game: Drink every time he says "laterally". Happy New Years!

[@HappyCynic]

Merry christmas, Clive.

[@ThatGuy-ht9sp]

Thanks Harry

[@Plokman040]

Ha love the take that on Waterproofing, "Not in frickin' Glasgow weather they weren't!" You know you'd think they would stop testing nature with "indestructible" or " Unsinkable " water is the Universal solvent, it will break anything given enough time. Man this is amazing stuff, it is funny Harry sounds like a interesting fellow it may be a good thing Roboticization has yet to be figured out. (Heh I'm a kid of the 90s, forgive my Sonic the Hedgehog reference. I don't know why, but that concept has always been interesting)

[@WorldofKlown]

After 2 am and long and rambly myself. There is no better historical retelling of a moment, than the guy who watched it all go down from the hilltop. (Homeric reference)

[@AlpakaWhacker]

I think I've heard the word "Laterally" more times in this video than in my entire life so far :P

[@zxrenew5642]

Fascinating, especially for a weegie!

[@jxi5671]

Lmao the subtitles for this is gold

[@RobinWatson27]

The King of Glowing Light Ornament: Enter The TEGGEN!

[@J11DNO]

I have an 18 inch ball outside the front door made with this stuff, I'll send a picture! Merry Christmas 😀👍

[@Beany2007FTW]

With regards to the metal bands, as I recall if you galvanise the poles, it's only a very thin coating - metal bands will cut through that, and allow corrosion to occur; plastic (generally) won't. Might explain it?

[@Athessu]

fig 3 is definitely a lightsaber schematic :o

[@Gaark]

I remember installing this stuff years ago, only good for use inside and definitely didn't last forever lol

[@stewartcaldwell5299]

Fantastic history ! Thanks !

[@alanreader4815]

Great video clive. Say hi to Ralfy. again for us. LOL

[@TechTed1]

Still love those light tubes

[@krisztianszirtes5414]

12:20 Oh well. Law doesn't work that way. Sorry Clive but you are wrong. In public areas you can be freely photographed and according to the current law and you have absolutely no rights over that photo even if you are the only subject of it. You don't have to ask permission to photograph someone and every single right regarding the image, such as owning copyright is in the hand of the photographer. GG. On the other hand, the source is shown, the image you had is publicly available and it falls under educational use and counts as fair use. Not for the reason you thought you did, but you had the rights to show it.

[@redsable6119]

Merry Christmas Clive!

[@codebeard]

New drinking game: Take a drink every time Clive says "latterly"

[@bigclivedotcom]

The video went off on so many random tangents... I think I may have to re-record it as a dedicated George Square video with lots of extra stuff.

[@codebeard]

+bigclivedotcom It was a really fascinating video, it's nice to know the back story for your expertise and penchant for lighting. Keep up the great work

[@nickmiller9537]

codebeard do one with "but ehm"

[@magicalpencil]

I have been to the toilet while this video was running and now there is a picture of a weird bird who looks like he is wiring up some lighting. I may have to go back and catch up a bit!

[@almostanengineer]

Long and Rambly, just how I like it :)

[@terryblake1554]

Hope all is well, Merry Christmas Clive! From New Hampshire

[@ToonOfLancing]

Very educational - many thanks.

[@danlay9362]

The red tubing reminded me of some central heating demonstration boards you used to see in shopping areas in the 80s and poss early 90s. I guess it was because central heating was a fairly new thing? From what I remember it was a white board with red and blue tubes with animated bulbs inside. A boiler and radiators was also connected up into the simulation. I think it kind of gave the impression of moving hot and cold water. Anyone else remember these? tried a google search but revealed nothing just like when I searched for those scary cameras they had in boots!

[@bigclivedotcom]

That might have been a display system that used a rotating patterned disk inside to create movement with a moire pattern effect. It was quite common to demonstrate things like that in museums.