Mars Spectrasystem "Roof Bar"

[kerry4951]

Recent addition to my collection. It needed some sprucing up and a set of legs but overall in pretty decent shape. Its the basic model (SSA-001)?? with two rotators and two mirrors, nothing fancy. Interesting bar in that its very well built in some areas yet they used plastic bulb holders in this one which seems to be a real cheap way to cut a corner. One of the previous owners tried to play "bar expert" but ended up screwing it up in more ways then one. Ive been able to get it back to pretty decent condition. Domes needed some polishing and interior needed some cleaning. End caps were not missing and in overall excellent condition. Had to fabricate a set of legs from pics that I found on the web.

 

[dmathieu]

Very nice Kerry! Nice clean-up too.

 

[Mars Light]

Very nice bar.
I know the Mars Skybolt were used also by US Army. And in this case they had a low budget interior with plastic bulb holders.
Maybe your Spectrasystem or parts of it are from the Army.

 

[kerry4951]

You are correct.......I picked up an Army Skybolt and it also has the plastic bulb holder. I thought I saw some where it was suggested that the "later" Mars roof bars switched over to plastic bulb holders where the earlier ones were metal. What strikes me funny is why the Army would settle for plastic when they could have the best under their specs.

 

[Scoot163]

That is really cool. Never saw those out here. Not sure Mars had much of a market in the Northwest. What year would that bar have been in service? Late 70's early 80's?

 

[Mars Light]

Not only with the holders was saved. Even with the bulbs. I found a Skybolt with solide metal holders but without sealed beams.
The army used tiny metal mirrors and 21W bulbs with bayonet.

 

[Skulldigger]

Neat bar.. I like your display with the tags on the shelves.

 

[Benno]

Nice!
Was the bar lately on the bay? May be for 450$ buy it now?

Spectrasystems with plastic bulb holders and the straight mirrors are Army spec.
On one of my I found this label:

 

[jph2]

That's very sharp! You've made it look like new! And now I know there was a mil-spec Spectrasystem and the regular version. Cool.

 

[7d9_z28]

We are all missing the bigger picture here...

IS that a Bricklin dealship sign?!?!?!?!? How in the... Where in the......

 

[kerry4951]

We are all missing the bigger picture here...

IS that a Bricklin dealship sign?!?!?!?!? How in the... Where in the......

It is.........bought it from the widow of a bricklin dealer in Buffalo, NY

 

[7d9_z28]

It is.........bought it from the widow of a bricklin dealer in Buffalo, NY

Lucky! VERY cool piece!