Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 1995 - 59

Ted Hammers are available in five different sizes and
weights from 1" to 1 1/2" head size and from 10 oz. to 30 oz.
weight. The striking face can be either smooth for finish
work or serrated for rough framing work. Regardless of size
or weight, the head and the handle are carefully proportioned to provide perfect center-of-gravity balance and thus
reduce fatigue. Finally, the Ted Hammer carries a lifetime
guarantee! According to the literature, "any dissatisfaction by
purchaser, when properly presented, will result in prompt,
complete repair or replacement without charge." It is also
nice to know that Ted Hammers are all American made.
We received three sizes of hanuners for testing. All hammers have the same shape and proportion, only the size and
weight change. We used all three hammers offand on for about
twO weeks to compare them with our other hanlmers. There is
no question that they are fine quality tools. They are well balanced and they do permit close surface nailing as advertised.
The magnetic nail holder is an excellent addition. However,
some users may prefer a magnet which holds the nail in line

with the axis of the head rather than at 90' to the axis as the Ted
hammer does. The 90' position prevents starting a nail close to
a corner because the head or claw strike the adjacent surface.
We enjoyed using the Ted Hammers and found they performed very well. We are used to rubber grip handles and the
smooth hickory handles on the Ted Hammer seemed a bit
slippery in comparison. Perhaps a slightly larger Aare at the
end of the handle would make the user feel more secure.
You can learn more about these excellent American made
tools by contacting the company. You can also order hammers directly from them. Prices range from 528 to S56 in
increasing size; shipping is included.
Ted Hammers, Inc.
6152 Mission Gorge Rd. Suite G
San Diego, CA 92120
619-584-1190
619-584-1048 (fax)
800-645-2434 (orders)

LIMELITE SAFETY LIGHTS: You would expect a product
with a name like Limelite to fit right into the world of theatre and you would be absolutely right. Limelite uses an electroluminescent space age lighting material instead of bulbs
which can break and burn out. It produces a soft green glow
which is ideal for night illumination of hallways, bathrooms
and children's bedrooms, but it is also perfect for back stage
illumination in the theatre.
Limelite is 1/4" slim and less than 3" square. The standard two-prong edison plug is located about 1/2" from one
edge so that the device will not interfere with the second
outlet in a duplex receptacle. The thin-profile, high-impact
plastic case protects it from traffic.
Limelite is so efficient that it only uses .03 watts of electricity. In most pans of this country you could use it 24
hours a day, 7 days a week, and still use less than two cents
worth of electricity per year! You could operate it for one
quarter of a century for less than 50 cents! And it has a lifetime guarantee. It if ever burns out, return it to the company
with your receipt and they will replace it for free if you will
pay $2.50 shipping and handling.
Limelite is an ideal safety light for backstage use. It can be
installed permanently wherever there is a 11 OV outlet, or it can
be temporarily located on the backstage side of scenery. It is an
ideal low level illuminator for dark stairways and hall ways,
steep escape stairs, prop tables, and operating lines. It is small
and thin so it fits in tiny spaces. It produces no heat and is cool
to the touch so tllere is no danger of fire when it is placed near
scenery or costllmes. If it ever produces more light than you
want in a particular situation, you can mask off part of tile illuminated panel with a small piece of tape without fear of overheating tile device. Because it uses such a small amount of

electricity, it can be supplied with small gage inexpensive electrical wiring (as long as d1e wiring is rated for 110-115 V use).
In brief, the Limelite seems to be made with the theatre
in mind. You can probably think of many additional applications but its most valuable contribution may be the
improvement to backstage safety. An injury prevented (with
its potential liability consequences) or a dramatic stage
moment protected from one interruption from backstage
problems make the Limelite a very worthwhile investment.
Limelight retails for about $7 and is available in many
hardware stores and home centers or you can contact the
company directly:
Austin Innovations, Inc.
2600 McHale Court
Suite 140
Austin, TX 78758
512-339-6765
512-837-0337 (fax)

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 1995