ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCE

An electric light source is provided with an essentially axially symmetrically shaped bulb made of a light- transmitting material vacuum-tightly sealed by a lamp stem 2, a light emitter in the form of a tubular discharge vessel in the bulb 1, a lamp cap 3 electrically connected to the discharge tube 4 via he lamp stem 2 and mechanically and electrically connectible with an external lamp-holder, and metallic conductor supports 5, 6 extending from the stem 2 with ends electrically and mechanically connected to the discharge tube 4 which is filled with noble gas(es) and metallic additive(s) such as sodium, cadmium and/or mercury. As shown, the discharge tube 4 may be mounted transversely to the axis of the bulb 1, and preferably the maximum internal diameter of discharge tube 4 is 5.5 mm and the maximum diameter of the bulb 1 is 70 mm.