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A torchère (/tɔːrˈʃɛər/tor-SHAIR;French:torchère[tɔʁ.ʃɛʁ]; also variously spelled "torchèr", "torchière", "torchièr", "torchiere" and "torchier" with various interpretative pronunciations), also known as astandard lamp,[1]torch lamp orfloor lamp, is alamp with a tall stand ofwood ormetal. Originally, torchères werecandelabra, usually with two or three lights. When it was first introduced inFrance towards the end of the 17th century the torchère mounted one candle only, and when the number was doubled or tripled the improvement was regarded almost as a revolution in the lighting of large rooms.[2]
Today, torchère lamps usefluorescent,halogen, orLEDlight bulbs. Adjusting thepulse-width modulation in the electronic ballast can allow the fluorescent torchères to be dimmed.
Halogen torchères usually came with a simple switch. Some more expensive models have aTRIAC dimmer circuit built into the stem. Early lamps with 300W bulbs tended to fail quickly. Retrofitting the lamp with a 100W bulb resulted in a substantial improvement in bulb life with minimal loss in brightness.
Halogen torchères have been banned in some places, such asdormitories, because of the large numbers of fires they have caused. The torchère was held responsible by theUS Consumer Product Safety Commission for 100 fires and 10 deaths since 1992.[3] Halogen bulbs operate at hightemperatures and the tall height of the lamps brings them nearflammable materials, such ascurtains.[4]
One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in thepublic domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Torchère".Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 50.The halogen lamp industry voluntarily undertook an initiative to repair about 40 million halogen torchere floor lamps. The CPSC is aware of 189 fires and eleven deaths that occurred because of these lamps.
