December 1997
In the attic beside the 8 foot deep dome, Bill Enos, the Byrd's master machinist and projectionist is lowering the 2 ton chandelier a process that normally takes about 45 minutes.
Hand cleaning the outer prisms
Miles Rudisill (right), the Byrd's curator, oversees the job.
A channel 6 WTVR-TV announcer (white shirt) stands by for a live feed of the progress at hand for an 11pm news report.
The quality of the Czechoslovakian Crystal can be seen here in this closeup.
Note the length of the prisms. (up to 14")
3 of the 5 lamp tiers in the lower basket portion of the chandelier can be seen in this photo. The bulbs generally alternate amber, green, blue, and red through all 8 tiers totaling 400 full size bulbs.
In this picture I am changing the blue bulbs in the upper section while standing on the ½" thick iron work seen in the photo above that supports the lower basket.
Changing the upper ambers
The work lights shine through the finished product. Note the 8" ball on the bottom.
Ready to crank up (left) - note the shinny bulbs as compaired to the right picture when we started.
Looking down the cable as the top of the chandelier approaches the ceiling.
One of our projectionist, John Deshazo, putting in some time at the winch.
Full cobalt blue and a little red.
Full amber and some red
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