Lets see your vintage shop work lights
- Thread starter Gasgt1
- Start date
smokeyburb
Well-known member
Good enough. Thanks. I'm collecting info for future projects.
Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk
Sent from my moto g(6) using Tapatalk
Username already in use
Well-known member
I snagged this pair of vintage florescent articulating work lamps today. $8 for the pair! 
I snagged this pair of vintage florescent articulating work lamps today. $8 for the pair!
You ****. Do they have bulbs? If so can you figure out what size it is? I have one with a base I got about 3 years ago and I'm ashamed to say I had for gotten about it. I paid $15.
Username already in use
Well-known member
Thanks!
I'd say that $15 is a more than fair price.
The bulbs that are in there are 15w T8 bulbs. Looks like the sylvania part number is F15T8/CW. Bulb measures just over 17" long.
Attachments
JoCoSawdust
Well-known member
The data plate is missing from this and no other markings. Articulated joints look to be Dazor but I've never seen a base like this. Incandescent bulb.
Mr. Wonderful
Well-known member
FrankLee
Well-known member
That looks like a medical examination light. I have a more modern one and never realized that it's an Ajusco.
Last edited:
Not originally a shop light, but appropriate nonetheless. I picked up this old green porcelain outdoor lamp on the 'bay. Seller says it was rescued from an abandoned gas station. It most definitely had decades of paint splatter and other wear.
Upon receiving it, I cleaned the shade with acetone, rewired the socket with some modern cloth-covered pulley cord, and repainted the socket mount.
Most of the work was focused on the bracket, heavily rusted and badly bent. I hammered it back into shape, wire brushed, applied rust converter, and overpainted gloss black. It's not perfect but the blemishes under the new paint tell a story. I also used rust converter on the few spots of rust on the shade, then applied a coat of paste wax.
The old mounting hardware was badly rusted, so trashed that and replaced with identical new hardware. I then mounted it above my main "work table" in the basement and have a very bright LED bulb inside.
I'm pleased with how it turned out! First two attached pics are from the auction listing, the rest are mine.
Upon receiving it, I cleaned the shade with acetone, rewired the socket with some modern cloth-covered pulley cord, and repainted the socket mount.
Most of the work was focused on the bracket, heavily rusted and badly bent. I hammered it back into shape, wire brushed, applied rust converter, and overpainted gloss black. It's not perfect but the blemishes under the new paint tell a story. I also used rust converter on the few spots of rust on the shade, then applied a coat of paste wax.
The old mounting hardware was badly rusted, so trashed that and replaced with identical new hardware. I then mounted it above my main "work table" in the basement and have a very bright LED bulb inside.
I'm pleased with how it turned out! First two attached pics are from the auction listing, the rest are mine.
Attachments
Outlawmws
Well-known member
Very Nice Tym!
drivesitfar
Well-known member
TYM: thanks for posting this cause i've still got open beams above my benches in my garage too and finding one of these to put up would appeal to me a lot more than a 4 or 8 foot florescent.
looks great now that you used your skills to spiff it up.
FRANK: that is a great light you mounted behind your grinder. do you have some sort of lighting over more of your machines?
ALL: I've got some to post when I get a bench clean which is another issue cause my FSD (flat surface disease) is not cured yet.
looks great now that you used your skills to spiff it up.
FRANK: that is a great light you mounted behind your grinder. do you have some sort of lighting over more of your machines?
ALL: I've got some to post when I get a bench clean which is another issue cause my FSD (flat surface disease) is not cured yet.
Shiftless
Well-known member
drives:
FSD is an affliction most all of have to fight... you’re not alone
Here is my Dazor standing by for any needed illumination in my vise display room. I’ll include a close up of the label in case anybody on this thread needs to make a repro label.
I rescued it from the recycling center where it was heading to scrap. It works fine..even the cord and plug were in good shape. The base had a lot of surface rust so I guess the PO just decided it wasn’t good anymore.
All I had to do after cleaning was to hit it with a wire wheel and spray paint it black. (Originally gray enamel)
FSD is an affliction most all of have to fight... you’re not alone
Here is my Dazor standing by for any needed illumination in my vise display room. I’ll include a close up of the label in case anybody on this thread needs to make a repro label.
I rescued it from the recycling center where it was heading to scrap. It works fine..even the cord and plug were in good shape. The base had a lot of surface rust so I guess the PO just decided it wasn’t good anymore.
All I had to do after cleaning was to hit it with a wire wheel and spray paint it black. (Originally gray enamel)
Attachments
Last edited:
FrankLee
Well-known member
Yes, I have an old magnetic base lamp with a small led reflector bulb on the left side of the drill press head frame casting and can re-direct it to the 2x48 sander when needed. For general lighting, I have eleven 4' led lights from Sam's (one of the best shop improvements I've done). I ended up keeping the goose neck lamp on the grinder and selling the Ajustco and the Fostoria.
This lamp came attached to dp#68. Except for the mounting bracket, it resembles a Craftsman lamp.
Last edited:
drivesitfar
Well-known member
Shift: that's a great looking lamp and the vise display in the background is impressive. I remember when you made that shelving unit and only had a few vises to put on it. Gee how thinks can grow if you have a shelf (see FSD comment below). I hear you that even I have given away items that still work and were nice cause I didn't have the space or got tired of thinking where to put them, but as of yet i haven't thrown any in the trash.
FSD is hard to cure especially as we tend to like a lot of stuff that just wont fit on a shelf or in a drawer, but i'm working on it.
Frank: nice looking shop. other than repairing old tools do you make or repair other items? thanks for the lighting tips.
FSD is hard to cure especially as we tend to like a lot of stuff that just wont fit on a shelf or in a drawer, but i'm working on it.
Frank: nice looking shop. other than repairing old tools do you make or repair other items? thanks for the lighting tips.
I hear ya. Although those 4' or 8' fluorescent (or even better, LED) shop lights are awesome, they just don't beat a vintage one.
Some folks are asking crazy high prices for these old porcelain lamps on the 'bay since they're mid-century modern, but a little hunting will turn up a diamond in the rough.
I have some 'made in Germany'.
Wout
Wout
Attachments
Last edited:
Not sure if we are after shop lights or work lights. Anyway here's my favorite two lights that are lighting my basement work area.
Both are preheat F40T12 All original except paint, the 2 lamp reflector by me and the other was sloppily painted by someone before. Ballasts are stamped late '47 and early '48. Very bright with good lamps, no desire for led's here I'd light a whole garage with these if I could find enough.
I have a bunch of vintage lighting stuff squirled away. Some 500w incandescent reflectors that would probably go over well these days. Lots of fluorescent stuff from the 50's and 60's. And some house fixtures from the 20's - 30's
Both are preheat F40T12 All original except paint, the 2 lamp reflector by me and the other was sloppily painted by someone before. Ballasts are stamped late '47 and early '48. Very bright with good lamps, no desire for led's here I'd light a whole garage with these if I could find enough.
I have a bunch of vintage lighting stuff squirled away. Some 500w incandescent reflectors that would probably go over well these days. Lots of fluorescent stuff from the 50's and 60's. And some house fixtures from the 20's - 30's
FrankLee
Well-known member
I picked this nice Dazor #1104 lamp yesterday. It's missing the ball mount though. I'll be calling Dazor tomorrow to see if I can get a replacement mount. In case I can't buy an oe mount, would anyone know the diameter of the mount ball? I believe this mount was used on multiple models. The hole at the end of the arm is ~1".
Last edited:
Rust Collector
Member
This old Sear light came with a bunch of old parts I picked up, perfect for the lathe! Cleaned up the rust as best I could whilst preserving the original paint, decal still pretty clear, unfortunately the paint on the hood just clean fell off as I touched it, so tried a match but not great and may redo, anyone suggest a good Rustoleum/Krylon match?
Last edited:
bmwrd0
Well-known member
Nice. I traded Smokeshow one like that a little while ago to use on his Craftsman drill press.
Here is the Dazor on my lathe:
It is one of the heavy base models, not a clamp down version.
Here is the Dazor on my lathe:
It is one of the heavy base models, not a clamp down version.
Rust Collector
Member
That Dazor looks perfect for the lathe! Can never have enough light when making chips!
I also have one of the flexible “Underwriters Laboratories Inc” ones that I’ll probably use on my 150 drill press, just needs cleaning up.
I also have one of the flexible “Underwriters Laboratories Inc” ones that I’ll probably use on my 150 drill press, just needs cleaning up.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
That's a safety certification stamp or label, RC. Before Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. shortened and trademarked their name into the "(UL)" ("UL" inside a circle) marking that can be seen today on many consumer products it was spelled out in full and embossed or stamped or etched or often affixed to a product, especially electrical cords, for example, with a twist-on label, certifying that the product has been tested and is safe to use. They are not a government entity and it was not required, but they built their business on manufacturers knowing that consumers trusted their name, and manufacturers were quick to exploit that. That's why it is often almost as prominently displayed (vintage pressurized fire extinguishers are a great example of that...) as the brand name itself.
The brand name of your flexible work light, if it has one, will be somewhere else.
Rust Collector
Member
Thanks, I did suspect this was not the manufacturer, the .inc threw me. Appreciate the history on it, much like the CE stamp I’m more used to in Europe. No other markings, but looks to be one of the generic offerings shown in Craftsman catalogs of the time
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
No problem. It can definitely cause some confusion, especially when it's the only marking. And the style and flair or the marking, which is quite ornate for an inspection or safety certification, adds to the confusion. Their original logo is so fancy that it has become a desirable collectible feature in its own right. To wit this old gas can and fire extinguisher.
Attachments
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
The UL marking is sometimes mistakenly thought to be only associated with electrical products, which is not true, as I have demonstrated above, and, ironically, I have found those to be the most boring examples. Take the 1951 NOS Vulcan soldering iron in Pics 1 & 2 for example.
And to get us back on thread topic track, I have two of those seemingly ubiquitous brown Art Specialty Company "FLEXO" lamps. One that is more suitable for a desk than my horribly cluttered workbench. Both have boring UL markings. See Pics 3, 4, 5, & 6.
And to get us back on thread topic track, I have two of those seemingly ubiquitous brown Art Specialty Company "FLEXO" lamps. One that is more suitable for a desk than my horribly cluttered workbench. Both have boring UL markings. See Pics 3, 4, 5, & 6.
Attachments
thisistheshow
Active member
I just found this thread. It is great!
I am a guy who really likes vintage flashlights (though I don't have much in the way of any). I only relatively recently started into vintage tools. So this thread is a lot of fun.
I am a guy who really likes vintage flashlights (though I don't have much in the way of any). I only relatively recently started into vintage tools. So this thread is a lot of fun.
Rust Collector
Member
Those extinguisher tags are a work of art!!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Thanks. Agreed.
A predilection I share, with gusto, and a good tool topic for which we don't have a dedicated thread. Maybe we can cajole and convince Gasgt1 and the rest of the guys to let us expand the topic a tad so they have a home here? (Hey, they are lamps and they are used for working, right?) To that end, here are two of mine.
I have posted additional photos of the 50's vintage Bell System Light-Stick on the left there in the 'Bell System' thread, linked here, and I started my own thread on the WWII-era US Navy helmet- or headband-mounted trouble light, which I restored, here.
Attachments
A few within reach I feel I can post here since it's rightfully expanded just above.
The fluorescent is supposedly pre 1950 and is from a route 66 post office. Seligman I think. I have 20 or so of them. Glass coated. Led converted.
Do not make fun of the romex cords. I have the correct green/white braided for all of them but just haven't got around to changing them all out. $300 damn dollars for the right cord....
Squ
Love that yellow one. I have the matching(you know... Not matching but accompanied) oxygen generator.
Carbide forehead lamps for the old guys. Don't tell a blabber mouth you know how to work one. Before you know it fifteen people have given you thirty of the damn things.
Shop lighter, not shop light
The round Rusty one is carbide and was a 1910's car accessory.
And dammit, I'm batman. Everyone loves that silly thing in person.
Grinder lamp.
These were at hand.
I have vintage stage gel type spots from the thirties and a ww2 ship spot/stadium light outside.
I wish I had a picture of my dental lamps. They're made for flat ceilings and I don't have any. It's the ones on tracks that they pull down and maneuver to see in your mouth. Early sixties, I have two of them in a closet waiting to be traded away. Wife used one for sewing and I used one on the work bench at our other house. Four foot travel lateral rail and about a two floor reach after that. You've all seen them at every dental chair ever.
The fluorescent is supposedly pre 1950 and is from a route 66 post office. Seligman I think. I have 20 or so of them. Glass coated. Led converted.
Do not make fun of the romex cords. I have the correct green/white braided for all of them but just haven't got around to changing them all out. $300 damn dollars for the right cord....
Squ
Love that yellow one. I have the matching(you know... Not matching but accompanied) oxygen generator.
Carbide forehead lamps for the old guys. Don't tell a blabber mouth you know how to work one. Before you know it fifteen people have given you thirty of the damn things.
Shop lighter, not shop light
The round Rusty one is carbide and was a 1910's car accessory.
And dammit, I'm batman. Everyone loves that silly thing in person.
Grinder lamp.
These were at hand.
I have vintage stage gel type spots from the thirties and a ww2 ship spot/stadium light outside.
I wish I had a picture of my dental lamps. They're made for flat ceilings and I don't have any. It's the ones on tracks that they pull down and maneuver to see in your mouth. Early sixties, I have two of them in a closet waiting to be traded away. Wife used one for sewing and I used one on the work bench at our other house. Four foot travel lateral rail and about a two floor reach after that. You've all seen them at every dental chair ever.
Attachments
Last edited:
This isn't exactly a user but it thought lugnutz might want to see it.
Read the instruction sheet.
Absolutely complete with filters and paper sleeves.
Useless as ***** on a boar, but it's a light and it's in the shop.
Read the instruction sheet.
Absolutely complete with filters and paper sleeves.
Useless as ***** on a boar, but it's a light and it's in the shop.
Attachments
Last edited:
Rust Collector
Member
Those vintage flashlights look like an addictive collectible 
Here’s a photo of the flexy light, needs a clean up and will probably fit on my old Craftsman 150 drill press
Here’s a photo of the flexy light, needs a clean up and will probably fit on my old Craftsman 150 drill press
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
...-. .-. -.--- / -.-. --- --- .-..
You clearly have more faith in humankind that I do, or you read and watch fewer post-apocalyptic stories!
Outlawmws
Well-known member
...- . .-. -.-- / -.-. --- --- .-.. -.-.-- / - .... .. ... / -.-. --- ..- .-.. -.. / -... . / ..-. ..- -. -.-.--
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Haha. Fun, or annoying, depending on who you ask! We still had Morse guys in the Army when I was in. They were known as dittybops.
outofbounds
Well-known member
FrankLee
Well-known member
This old Moffatt Flex Arm lamp came with a Craftsman #6604 grinder I recently bought. The motor with the grinder is dated 2 60.
Because of the Magna label on the shade, I originally thought the lamp was a cheap import. The more I checked it out, I could tell that the quality is very good. The flex arm is ~24" and has a very nice vinyl-like coating and the black shade is in very good condition. This lamp looks like new.
It turns out that Moffatt Products is still in business and their customer support is excellent. New similar LED lamps sell in the $80-$100 range.
This lamp is probably from the '60s. They did not recognize the nylon mounting components. They are now steel. The quick-disconnect mount is very similar to air line connectors. .
Because of the Magna label on the shade, I originally thought the lamp was a cheap import. The more I checked it out, I could tell that the quality is very good. The flex arm is ~24" and has a very nice vinyl-like coating and the black shade is in very good condition. This lamp looks like new.
It turns out that Moffatt Products is still in business and their customer support is excellent. New similar LED lamps sell in the $80-$100 range.
This lamp is probably from the '60s. They did not recognize the nylon mounting components. They are now steel. The quick-disconnect mount is very similar to air line connectors. .
Last edited:
csp
Well-known member
Picked up this Art Specialty Company "Flexo" light going through a hoard sale Sunday. My intention is to use it with the lathe that was purchased at the same sale.
It works but is a little rough, so a trip through the blast cabinet and a repaint is in order. I love the art deco look of it.
It works but is a little rough, so a trip through the blast cabinet and a repaint is in order. I love the art deco look of it.
Attachments
![IMG_4655[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/972/972093-135e7f400375bcfcfa8c6cc01037cc13.jpg)
![IMG_4654[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/972/972078-999069f948a3dfeeda18ad025a7e48dc.jpg)
Last edited:
lafester
Well-known member
I've got one just like that but in a bronze color.
My clamp is missing... can I get a pic of yours?
I like it as it has a pretty long reach and twists in many directions.
My clamp is missing... can I get a pic of yours?
I like it as it has a pretty long reach and twists in many directions.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Me too! Nice find.
I posted some photos of mine in post #185 above. I like your industrial grey much, much more than my office brown. I have since moved mine to the other side of the same bench. See pics below. Does yours have the same patent number? Should be 2,395,178 and if you're curious, it was granted Feb 19, 1946, applied for on June 7, 1943, which is just about the mean for most of the things I am taking a closer look at in my little curator's shop. By the way, please excuse the mess.
![IMG_4657[1].jpg](/forum/data/attachments/973/973110-670362a9c5bbc5d5a0c71bd0d47c0ca3.jpg)