Re: Acrylic Pole Light
I saw one once that was sort of similar to what you describe, it was on an early 80's aluminum bass boat, I believe it was a Grumman hull.
The bulb sat in the base, then the tube was merely chrome or mirrored on the inside, with a small white dome or lense. I seem to think that bulb was secured to it's socket with a screw or clamp. I remember having to mess with it to get it to work, and after all the trouble ended up replacing it anyhow since it wasn't very bright. The chrome plating inside the tube which reflected the light upward sort of like a periscope was faded or dull and barely any light made it up to the top. The entire stick sort of glowed at night at each end. I think tube was either pvc or some sort of plastic, and the globe was a short, tapered white plastic piece that only rose above the tube about a 1/2" and was about 1.5" across.
It was on an old boat that I bought for the motor and resold with a smaller motor on it, I only had it for a few weeks. I remember thinking that the lower bulb mount was a good idea until I powered it up and saw how poorly it worked. When I found it the tube was full of mud wasp nests, the years spent with them living inside took it's toll on the plating. I don't remember a brand, but it reminded me of those battery powered lights you buy in Xmart in quality. If I had been keeping that boat, I would have tossed it in favor of a normal light and socket. Yours sounds different if it actually uses fiberoptic strands?
What yours sounds like it fiber optic emitting cable or strands, it's not all that expensive and its been used for years in automobiles and buses. Many rear or remote turn indicators use it. See eBay item 150009237515.
A local hobby shop may even have it, if not a place like Radio Shack.
Its only as bright as it's source, and some sort of reflector is usually needed to make it light up an indirect object like a light globe. The light emitted is directional so to speak.
Post some pics when you get the light back and working.
