Laboratory Notes 
231 
A Cheap Bench Light 
By SYDNEY MANGHAM 
his arrangement was devised in order to provide a number of 
A cheap and well protected bench lights for the use of classes 
doing general microscopic work. In practice it has proved both 
neat and effective. 
A regulation rectangular wooden block carrying a switch and a 
lamp holder is attached at the back of the bench. A “sentry box” 
of stout sheet tin is screwed to the sides and to one end of the block 
round the lamp holder, and is provided with a shade to screen off 
the light from the eyes of the worker. The back and sides of the 
“sentry box” are made from one piece of tin and the top and shade 
from another, the two being soldered together. Greater rigidity is 
secured by bending over the front edges of the upright sides and of 
the shade, and also by having a flange of about a quarter of an inch 
at the sides of the shade. A coat of white enamel inside and of any 
desired colour outside finishes off the apparatus. 
The actual dimensions will vary, but approximately the “sentry 
box” will be eight inches high and three and a half wide, the shade 
being adjusted to the width of the bench. Enough space must be 
left between the top of the box and that of the bulb to allow of 
lifting the latter for removal. 
In the absence of substage rings for blue or ground glass, etc., 
a screen holder with suitable screen and ventilation holes can be 
placed in the front of the box by slipping it in between the block 
and the lower edges of the shade. Studs can be inserted at the 
base to keep the screen holder secure. The sentry box can also 
be used conveniently if provided with flexible cord and plug, but 
for class use it will not be found in the way if fixed permanently. 
Botanical Department, 
University College of Southampton. 
