Abstract: A fluorescent lamp unit comprising a self-contained assembly intended for use in replacement for a conventional incandescent filament lamp comprises two U-shaped fluorescent tubes (54, 55), each provided with filaments (56, 57) at respective ends of the arc discharge path. Lead-in wires (60, 68, 69, 76) are arranged to connect the separate arc discharge paths of the two fluorescent tubes in series, and remaining lead-in wires (61, 70, 67, 73) of the fluorescent tubes are connected to components of a starter circuit housed within the mounting (20, 22) of the lamp unit. The starter circuit preferably comprises a separate glow bottle switch (62, 71) for each fluorescent tube, and a single capacitor (65).