Did the 143 and 144 use Beaconray lamp holders?
No. the bulbs attach the same way with what appears to be using the same upper and lower bulb holders plates, however the complete lamp holder assemblies are different and not interchangeable with the Beacon Ray models.
both the 143 and the 144 use the type of bottom motor/gear and contact plate assemblies as used in the model 11. the 143 lamp holder assembly is similar to the one used in the 3 bulb Beacon Ray 173, but is different in that the metal shaft in the middle that extends down from the top of the lamp holder assembly through the gear to the bottom of the motor bracket is solid where as the one in the 173 and other Beacon Ray models is hollow to allow for the contact rod to extend from the top down to the bottom, where it connects with the brush ring. there also appears to be differences as to retaining ring grove placements on the shafts in the gear assembly areas of the 143 and Beacon Ray 173.
the lamp holder assembly for the 144 is completely different from the 143 and those in the four bulb Beacon Ray 174 and 176 models in that it consists of just the top and bottom lamp holder plates and the middle metal shaft, which does not extend down into the motor/gear assemby area. the shaft is closed at the top of the lamp holder assembly, however it is hollow and slips over the shaft that extends up from the motor/gear assembly (where the rotator assembly normally secures to with the model 11) and is secured in place with a set screw.
the contact brush assemblies on both the 143 and 144 lamp holder assemblies attach to the top side of the bottom lamp holder plates and the contact brushes extend down through openings in the bottom lamp holder plates to connect with the power contact plate.
i disassembled the 143 and one of my 144s and had the lamp holder assemblies refinished/plated. i only wish i would have taken some pictures of them while i had them disassembled to show the differences.
