I haven't but a studio I work with in New Orleans has..and with compliments.

What I suspect happened is that your original bulbs had a different mA rating than the new ones. You have to be very careful that if a 50mA bulb came out, a 50mA bulb goes in. A parts supplyer just don't have the resources to know exactly this rating and the bulb burned hotter than the other, thus your problem. I would not see a reason to blame the supplyer. It is the technicians responsability to determine if the part is going to work long term. Due to the fact that no one can really recomend anything other than an identical NOS part unless they are well versed in modifications, I would say you should bear the responsability for the melted meters.

It is like this:

If you installed them...you should know enough of what you are doing to assure no worries with the installation or parts. Upon discovery of the situation, a resistor should have been soldered into the line to make the bulb a cooler unit that what it was.

You cannot expect him to replace the meters unless he installed the bulbs. This is just like ordering tires that will "fit" a truck..but otherwise are too large and puts strain on the drive train and causes catastropic failure of the differential due to stress. The seller did not install..so the seller is off the hook.
Sorry but that is how I see it.

Both of you are at fault but you are more at fault for not babysitting the bulbs under use and assure a proper long lasting install.
That is all I can say.

Live and learn that if anything CAN happen that is wrong..it certainly will..eventually.

Ah, but alas, I have not asked him to replace any damaged parts - I simply have been looking to remedy the situation by getting a lower intensity bulb set. My real gripe is he won't answer any emails pertaining to the problem.

I'm not trying to lay blame. He does sell, and recomend, a particular bulb for this particular application. The voltage supplied matches speck - ei: others using the bulbs he sells for this application will most probably meet the same fate I did. If my face plate and meters can be the last sacraficed in all of us determining the CORRECT bulb for this application, fine. I simply would like him to communicate with me on this matter.

Thanks for your reply,
G

You are going to need to let him know what you want. He is most likely scared you will post things around the internet not condusive to his business :)

If he will not respond or is unwilling to respond..then you have a legitimate beef. At the least..he will learn from this as to have better recomendations...next time.

Try replacing the bulbs with a high brightness LED. You'll probably need to put a resistor in line, the value I cannot give you here. Then they will never blow out.

Remy Ann David

OK, I'm happy to report Bob has replied, and can supply a 12 volt bulb to replace the 8 volts installed previously. I have read nothing but good things about him and his business, which is partly why I was miffed at the lack of communication. I also realize the 'problem' is mine, not his. I'm sure he is just as busy as am I.

If the change works to spec, I'll recomend he change his listings and recommendations.

All for now. I will continue to do business with bob@vintage-electronics.net in the future. He has a well laid out website, and can supply an amazing amount of goodies to help us vintage gear loving guys keep our relics running! (quick with the shipping, too)

G 8-)