early electric afficionado!
Vintage lamp part restorations and sales.
- My name is Brian Allen, aka The Lamp Guy, and I have spent the last 40 years restoring antique lighting fixtures and creating my own one-of-a-kind light fixtures using old school techniques learned by studying how vintage lighting was made in the first place.
- I have always been fascinated by the ingenuity of the Edison era or 'early electric' lighting period. During this time, lighting and lighting components were usually hand assembled and were designed to not only last a very long time but to be able to be repaired if the need ever arose. A far cry from today's disposable offerings.
A mystery
This is an ealry 20th century or even possibly a late 19th century lamp socket with an unidentified logo on the paddle featuring an anchor. I am still looking for information about the manufacturer. It is a Tournier style, with a ceramic, brass, and copper interior. No markings at all on the brass.
Another Mystery
This unusual socket was found on an American made table lamp and uses an Edison based (standard) light bulb, however the socket is constructed like early English sockets. There are no markings on any parts other than the unusual logo on the paddle.
Early Electric Table Lamp
This is the earliest electric table lamp I have come accross. It's label is mostly disintigrated but what is left reads:" ...LLACE Novelty CO., NEW YORK, NY. PATENTED 1908, 1914."
Made of brass, the lamp can be used as either a table lamp or a wall lamp. A spring device in the base allows it to be clamped to a variety of objects and the arm bends to 90 degrees. The "plug" screws into an overhead fixture socket.
Solid Copper!
This is the only copper socket I have run into that was not plated. Made by General Electric, it came from a 1930s era salon heat lamp. There was a 500 watt infrared light bulb installed, and asbestos covered wiring attached. The socket was threaded for a 3/8 IP pipe. A ceramic insulator protected the casing.
.jpg "Socket comparison")
extra Heavy Duty !
This mogul based socket came out of a studio spot light. The ceramic and machined bronze components were designed to handle the insane heat that came from a 1,500 watt Mazda light bulb! There are no markings on the socket, but it is assumed this was made by General Electric, who also made said spotlight.
lightning arrester
This was found on the rafters of the basement in a home I bought. It was still connected to a dipole antenna up in the attic that was used for a ham radio transmitter. It really has nothing to do with lighting but it's from the early electric period I love plus it was made with cobalt blue glazed ceramic!
Igor, the switch!
This is a very early wall switch for turning on the classic bare-bulb-hanging-from-a-wire light fixture often found when electricity was first installed in an exsisting older home. Made from ceramic and copper; when properly installed there was really nothing to ever go wrong with it.
No igor, the other one!
This knife switch is much bigger than the previous one, and usually controlled a much larger circuit, thus the fuse outlets. This one was rated for 30 amps per line and for safety was usually found in an out of the way location in the home.
Ceramic, copper, and hardwood.
Fuse or penny?
This is an, early 20th century 15 amp fuse that still works! Made of ceramic and brass, it has a mica window to show whether the fuse has blown or not.
Many people would substitute a fuse with a copper penny or two to get a circuit back on line. Extremely dangerous to do this because as people fiddled with their wiring, pennies would never register a short so the wire would have to heat up until it melts in a weak spot, thus, a fire.
Early remote control
A small, brass, acorn shaped remote switch for table lamps. Often used on bedside lamps for ease of switching a lamp on and off. This one was made by Hart & Hegemon around 1915. A wire from this switch would lead to the wire in the base of a lamp. Also these were found dangling down a wall to operate a ceiling light 🫤
Handy Outlet
Unknown manufaturer. This brass pull chain socket came with a pre-installed convenience outlet. These were usually found hanging in the center of a room. This particular one is very sleek compared to earlier models made by Hubbell. The Art Deco Bakelite outlet was cleverly incorporated into the socket.
Incredible!
This knife switch is quite likely the oldest one I have found. It simply says Davis, Sprinfield Mass., 1900.
The bronze and copper mechanism sits on a slab of soapstone and was rated for 35 amps. The two vintage fuses are 1@15 amps and 1@20 amps. Both fuses are still in working order.
.jpeg "Two Leveler sockets")
Levolier's genius
These two sockets are truly remarkable. Although not on the marketplace for very long, they were exceptional designs. Using spring loaded push button mechanisms, the sockets worked smoothly, and were easily operated. Made by Levolier in the mid 20th century and soon thereafter discontinued.
1890s tech
This is a General Electric three-terminal socket from the 1890s that works perfectly after 130 plus years. These were hand assembled and offered to lamp makers after it was finally decided that the Edison based lightbulb would become the standard bulb base.
Back a little further
One of the earliest sockets I have found. This keyless socket was manufatured about 1885, and, coincidently, so was this light bulb. Amazingly, the light bulb still works, although it puts out a tremendous amount of heat for such a small bulb!