Abstract: In a gas-filled lamp an arc is initiated by withdrawal of a stinger electrode from contact with a stationary cathode, with subsequent transfer of the arc to the gap between the cathode and a stationary anode. The anode is cylindrical; and the stinger is elongate and is movably mounted within and electrically insulated from the anode. The cathode is elongate, having a long axis parallel to but spaced apart from the long axis of the stinger. The stinger contacts the cathode at other than the tip of the cathode, thereby precluding continual impacting of the stinger on the cathode tip with concomitant blunting of the cathode tip during the use cycle of the lamp. A magnetic core is affixed to the stinger, whereby the stinger can be moved by the energization of a solenoid. The magnetic core is apertured to provide a dashpot effect to damp the motion of the stinger.