Who makes decent light stands like this and affordable lights?

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

I guess this would be similar to what is used for movies. I'm using for copy stand use. Light stand doesn't have to be this bomb proof, but don't want flimsy stands like the ones that hold sheet music. Barndoors are a plus as well as casters. Lights don't have to be that big. These were from the Kaiser website, but it looks like they don't make them any longer or you can't buy in the USA. (If you like the copy stand it is $16,000.)

 

 

 

I have been using some cheap LED panel lights. They cost $125 and work fine. But I need bigger lights and more flex with floor movement rather than baseboard mounting. 

 

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Product photos: Kaiser, B&H / Fair Use

Edited June 16 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[Phil Rhodes]

That's a Mole junior rolling stand, or something very like it. I own two very old ones. I'm not sure if they're still in manufacture. More a TV studio thing, I think, but you should be able to find some.

[David Lawson]

In my LF (photography) days, I would have loved a set of these. A quick Google found this:  https://www.mole.com/

Edited June 17 by David Lawson

[Doyle Smith]

How much do your copy lights weigh? What pin or socket diameter/configuration do the yokes have?

Any rolling junior or baby stand would work if the specs are right. Seems like a locking caster would be plus. If the copy lights don't have to be repositioned frequently and aren't too heavy and have a 5/8" socket on the yoke, maybe a c-stand and sandbag would the ticket?

Check your NY or LA craigslist.

Edited June 26 by Doyle Smith

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

On 6/17/2024 at 10:21 AM, Phil Rhodes said:

That's a Mole junior rolling stand, or something very like it. I own two very old ones. I'm not sure if they're still in manufacture. More a TV studio thing, I think, but you should be able to find some.

 

Could not find any Mole at BH, but they have some Impact Lowboy that may work and are affordable. They had something called an Avenger Long John Silver for $10K! Jeeeesus, they are worse than Kaiser for cost. But they are very tall stands. 

 

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[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

On 6/17/2024 at 10:58 AM, David Lawson said:

In my LF (photography) days, I would have loved a set of these. A quick Google found this:  https://www.mole.com/

 

Thanks!

Probably would have missed it. I give BH a quick looksee and then move on if they got nothing. Mole is something! I can't use most of their stuff...it is for the big, big boys!

 

But they do make smaller items as well.

 

Here is some history on them...

PETER MOLE, founder of Mole-Richardson Co., was born in Sicily in 1891. At the age of 6, moved to New York and attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parochial School until 6th grade. His education did not continue until age 20. After he moved to Buffalo, New York, Peter enrolled at Bryan & Stratton, a 2 year Business & Engineering College where he received his degree. At Union College in Schenectady, NY, Peter Mole earned his Electrical Engineering Degree. From 1917 to 1923 he worked for General Electric Company and in 1923 moved to Los Angeles. Peter then went to work at a rental house in Hollywood. He saw that the lighting equipment and techniques filmmakers were using were not fulfilling their potential. With the advent of Panchromatic Black & White filmstock, he saw the possibility of using the new Incandescent Lighting to replace the less efficient Carbon Arc light. Joining forces with Elmer C. Richardson, a shop superintendent, and a chief studio electrician, Peter Mole formed Mole-Richardson to pursue this new lighting. The first Mole-Richardson light was built in a small machine shop in a garage in Hollywood, California. It was just 8 years later that the company won the first of four Academy Awards for its creation of the first Fresnel Spotlight. In 1927, Peter published an article in the the Society of Motion Picture Engineers Journal on the cost savings of the new Incandescent Illumination. In 1928, Mole-Richardson was asked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the American Society of Cinematographers to participate in their first Technical Report on Incandescent Illumination. The report published a picture of the new line of Incandescent lights from Mole-Richardson. Peter Mole became President of the SMPTE from 1951 to 1952 and stirred some controversy by embracing Television as a viable

 

 

Edited July 3 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

On 6/26/2024 at 7:08 PM, Doyle Smith said:

How much do your copy lights weigh? What pin or socket diameter/configuration do the yokes have?

Any rolling junior or baby stand would work if the specs are right. Seems like a locking caster would be plus. If the copy lights don't have to be repositioned frequently and aren't too heavy and have a 5/8" socket on the yoke, maybe a c-stand and sandbag would the ticket?

Check your NY or LA craigslist.

I only have cheap, lightweight lights, like this. I have no good lights or stands.

 

 

 I will have to check this all out as far as adaptability. I didn't know it was so complex. Thanks for the info!

Edited July 3 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

 

If you are interested in lighting, here is a 'who's who' of film lighting dealers that may be of use to you.

Dealers | Mole Richardson Co.

 

I'm thinking of going with Impact for stands...$150. Looks like plastic knobs, but read a review that said they are metal with a rubberized coating. Guess it protects against shocks.

 

 

Here...

Light Stands & Grip Equipment | Impact (impactstudiolighting.com)

Edited July 3 by Daniel D. Teoli Jr.

[Doyle Smith]

 

 

Daniel if your copy lights are as you pictured, what is the inner diameter of the sleeve that slides on the rods? If it's 5/8" or less, I'd look at a couple of c-stands.

Most likely you could leave the bases stationary and use the arms and risers to position your lights. A junior stand is way overkill for your lights and you'd need to purchase an arm for each.

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1603034-REG/impact_ls_cl40mk_c_stand_40_sld.html

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

Thanks Doyle. Interesting stand. 

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

On 7/3/2024 at 8:24 AM, Daniel D. Teoli Jr. said:

 

Thanks!

Probably would have missed it. I give BH a quick looksee and then move on if they got nothing. Mole is something! I can't use most of their stuff...it is for the big, big boys!

 

But they do make smaller items as well.

 

Here is some history on them...

PETER MOLE, founder of Mole-Richardson Co., was born in Sicily in 1891. At the age of 6, moved to New York and attended Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parochial School until 6th grade. His education did not continue until age 20. After he moved to Buffalo, New York, Peter enrolled at Bryan & Stratton, a 2 year Business & Engineering College where he received his degree. At Union College in Schenectady, NY, Peter Mole earned his Electrical Engineering Degree. From 1917 to 1923 he worked for General Electric Company and in 1923 moved to Los Angeles. Peter then went to work at a rental house in Hollywood. He saw that the lighting equipment and techniques filmmakers were using were not fulfilling their potential. With the advent of Panchromatic Black & White filmstock, he saw the possibility of using the new Incandescent Lighting to replace the less efficient Carbon Arc light. Joining forces with Elmer C. Richardson, a shop superintendent, and a chief studio electrician, Peter Mole formed Mole-Richardson to pursue this new lighting. The first Mole-Richardson light was built in a small machine shop in a garage in Hollywood, California. It was just 8 years later that the company won the first of four Academy Awards for its creation of the first Fresnel Spotlight. In 1927, Peter published an article in the the Society of Motion Picture Engineers Journal on the cost savings of the new Incandescent Illumination. In 1928, Mole-Richardson was asked by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences and the American Society of Cinematographers to participate in their first Technical Report on Incandescent Illumination. The report published a picture of the new line of Incandescent lights from Mole-Richardson. Peter Mole became President of the SMPTE from 1951 to 1952 and stirred some controversy by embracing Television as a viable

 

 

 

I wonder why they make their stuff pink?

Is it for visibility?

[Daniel D. Teoli Jr.]

 

I settled on the Impact lights and stands. Later I found out there were cheaper stands that are of a similar design, but they didn't look as robust. I may have been OK with them, but I could not look at them to find out. That is the case in 2024; you wanna look at something...you buy it to see.

The lights are a good value for the money. They do have some areas that could be improved. For instance, the black paint on the barn doors is rough and splotchy in spots, but this varies between units. The pebbled reflector material is a thin, stick-on material and crackles when handled. It comes off easily around the corners when the barn doors are grabbed. There are no washers supplied with the lights to attach the light stand mounting head. Buy some flat washers and a lock washer to mount it properly. 

The lights are plenty bright for my use, which is for lighting a large copy stand in the Archive and some video. The light output is also very even with good daylight color temperature. There are 2 switches that run two of the four lights at a time for hi (4 light) / low (2 light) output. The lights were well packed, but one of the bulbs had moved away from its socket during shipment and didn't work. The rest of the bulbs had moved away from the light sockets as well, but still worked. To fix / replace bulbs, you push the red button to eject the bulb, then snap it back in. Just snap it in with the light pins pushed close to the light socket. Comes with a super long 16-foot heavy AC cord. 

 

The yoke knobs on the sides loosen up easily and have to be constantly tightened. But when the lights are left alone, they seem to hold. The light mount head that connects to the stand has a sloppy fit on my stands. When snugged up it is acceptable...more or less. 

 

These lights are about the best bang for the buck when it comes to large, bright, flat lights with barn doors. I rated them 4 stars for an online review. If there were other options in this price range for this type of light, I may have rated them 3-1/2 stars. In any case I'd rebuy them for my purpose.

 

The stands arrived double boxed and well packed. Everything went together perfectly except for 1 wheel that I had to coax on in spots with a wrench. Wheels are similar to the wheels used on inline skates. Stands roll as smoothly as possible. Legs deploy easily and stow with a secure, spring lock.

Adjustment knobs are metal with a heavy plastic cover. Everything about it is overbuilt...no screwing around. They handle the heaviest of lights rock solid. If you need more height, you can buy an extension. But these stands are fine for copy stand use as-is.

Stands have built-in retractable light mounting rod for vertical or horizonal use. Again...rock solid deployment. Or you can mount your own head. I'm very happy with the stands and would buy again.

 

 

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