I Love Lamp

[thundermug]

I restore old lamps and design / fabricate new ones. I love lamp.

Show me your garage lamps & lights. Task, desk, trouble, Delta retirement, neon, articulated (my favorite), floor, hanging, original, restored, "a major award", or whatever.

If it's a lamp and it's in your garage, it's fair game.

I go first. 1940s (?) articulating lamp. Can be bolted to the wall, ceiling, or desk. Purchased from GJ member JSGauto. I'd like to remove the rust and paint it the original green/gray.
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/q71/1479063_668409485692_710404128_n.jpg


Next up, Delta drill press retirement light. These things are surprisingly expensive.
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/t1/q71/1390490_668409475712_1782183243_n.jpg


A mid century wall lamp with a scissor extension...thing. Rescued from a barn, de-rusted, rewired.
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q71/1461630_668409495672_1940468222_n.jpg


My first old industrial lamp. Mid century "floating" articulator.
https://scontent-a-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q71/1511391_668409515632_2120969810_n.jpg


My shop's current configuration.
https://scontent-b-ord.**.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn2/q71/1479456_668409530602_1161460277_n.jpg

 

[Bjm364]

I have a vintage adjustco articulating lamp i got off a guy for $20 and a porcelain keyless in its place. I will try to remember to take a picture of it tomorrow. I also have a green porcelain appleton barn light with a 200 watt incandescent lamp in it above my workbench.

 

[thundermug]

I'd like to see pictures of that. Those old articulating lamps sold for big bucks for a while. I think the market for them has been saturated, so they aren't nearly as pricey.

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

I have a budding Dazor articulating lamp collection.

The first one I bought was an incandescent lamp that I picked up at a Garage Sale cheap.

The second and third are 2 tube florescent desk lamps that I also picked up at Garage Sales. The most expensive one was the third - I paid $25.00 because I'M HOOKED . . . .

I did see a floor standing incandescent at an Estate Sale but had to run before I could find out what they wanted for it. The moral of that story? Do go to Estate Sales with an unbreakable meeting scheduled later!

I almost picked up a ROUGH non articulating Dazor Desk lamp but it needed work and I have no home for it at this time. While my wife is very understanding - she has limits. . .

Cheers

Jim

 

[thundermug]

Those Dazor lamp are great. Seem to last forever. The incandescent is interesting. Haven't seen too many of them.

I foolishly passed up a photography lamp setup over the summer for $5. I kick myself when I think of it. Perfect for a bench grinder.

 

[jeffmoss26]

no lamps here, but I like your setups, thundermug and Jim!

 

[NHBandit]

Sorry, mine are a bit older before electricity. Some random railroad lanterns. All are embossed with the logo of the railroads that owned them on the metal shades and some also etched into the glass globe. Got around 25 or so total.

 

[Zeke]

I have one from my dad's office purchased in the '50's. Not mine pictured:

 

[1/2 Cup]

Subscribed, you have ticked the box here.

Pics to follow..

 

[1/2 Cup]

I finally got around to taking some pics so here is some of mine.

View media item 38320
A Singer sewing machine work lamp that I picked up at an antique store and adapted it to the cast base. I fitted a new lead and CFL lamp.

View media item 38319
Not a desk lamp but I thought I would share it any way. This is one of the oldest fluorescent fixtures I have seen in a while dating from 1947.

View media item 38318
I have totally rewired the unit and replaced the old ballast with an electronic 36 watt soft start unit.

Cheers

 

[CheckeredFlag]

any larger Barn style lamps ?

 

[theoldwizard1]

Anyone know of a place that sells oversized harps for table lamps so I can use a 3 way CFL ?

 

[frankush]

I think it's the bases on the freestanding lights that really set them apart.

 

[piehammer]

Bumping this old thread - Picked up this Art Specialty Co. Flexo lamp today thinking it was a Dazor for $15. Love the base, definitely keeping it.

 

[fishwatcher]

Re-reviving an old thread.

I thought my old fluorescent desk light had finally died. Of course, I had to look up fixing it here and on YouTube. With an extra, old T8 fluorescent tube I had in my garage and after taking apart the reflector to see what I was working with, I reassembled everything and it fired back up.

It turns out I have an old Dazor 2324 Floating Fixture Industrial lamp and it might be worth replacing the fluorescent tubes with new LED tubes. Instead of removing the ballast and rewiring it direct for LED tubes, I found GE Color Select LED tubes that would work without the need to rewire. Plug and play!

Here it is, wiped down with bike polish (it’s what I had), pivots lubed, and tubes replaced with bright modern LED T8s.



It is now very bright and instant on with the original power on and power off buttons.

The ballast is still subject to failure.. but I’ll deal with that when it dies. I just wasn’t sure what parts were the ballast (you’re supposed to snip the wires to it and bypass) and which were for the switch (still needed to turn on and off).

 

[Jim_No_Garage]

Re-reviving an old thread.

I thought my old fluorescent desk light had finally died. Of course, I had to look up fixing it here and on YouTube. With an extra, old T8 fluorescent tube I had in my garage and after taking apart the reflector to see what I was working with, I reassembled everything and it fired back up.

It turns out I have an old Dazor 2324 Floating Fixture Industrial lamp and it might be worth replacing the fluorescent tubes with new LED tubes. Instead of removing the ballast and rewiring it direct for LED tubes, I found GE Color Select LED tubes that would work without the need to rewire. Plug and play!

Here it is, wiped down with bike polish (it’s what I had), pivots lubed, and tubes replaced with bright modern LED T8s.



It is now very bright and instant on with the original power on and power off buttons.

The ballast is still subject to failure.. but I’ll deal with that when it dies. I just wasn’t sure what parts were the ballast (you’re supposed to snip the wires to it and bypass) and which were for the switch (still needed to turn on and off).

Those tubes appear to require the ballast to function. This was in the QA section: This LED tube must be used with a compatible ballast.

I will consider them when I need to replace bulbs in my Dazors. Mrs No_Garage has one on her desk that could use some brightening up.

 

[Bert_]

The simple choke ballasts in these last forever. Honestly with normal use the bulbs last for decades too

 

[Copymutt]

Gets chili here in winter. NG has tripled. Started supplementing w/ heat where you need it.
From scratch. 8 cents per hr.

 

[Bert_]

Gets chili here in winter. NG has tripled. Started supplementing w/ heat where you need it.
From scratch. 8 cents per hr.

I read an article a while back about someone doing something similar. I think they had the air temperature down to 50* and still comfortable while working at a desk. Supplemental heating like this has a lot of merit

 

[Copymutt]

I read an article a while back about someone doing something similar. I think they had the air temperature down to 50* and still comfortable while working at a desk. Supplemental heating like this has a lot of merit

If you watch the British show, Clarkson’s Farm. Jeremy has an infrared pointed at his head in his shop office. Great series by the way!

 

[fishwatcher]

Those tubes appear to require the ballast to function. This was in the QA section: This LED tube must be used with a compatible ballast.

I will consider them when I need to replace bulbs in my Dazors. Mrs No_Garage has one on her desk that could use some brightening up.

If it needs brightening.. go for the upgrade sooner than later. Fluorescent tubes can last a long time before they die. The select temperature option of the GE product at Lowe’s is cool, or warm, or.. in between .

 

[driftpin]

Not yet done, but put-together for a 'proof of concept.' An accent wall lamp. One part old (nearly my age) and one part newer.

 

[threewood]

Lamps huh. How about my pps43 9mm lamp...

 

[fishwatcher]

I really love this old Dazor lamp. It’s upgraded with GE LED T8 tubes that I have praised here on GJ. Recently, I touched the lamp and had my hand on my laptop at the same time.

There is an intermittent ground issue. I felt that prickly electrical sensation through my hand on the lamp.

I am not saavy when it comes to electrical issues. Any detailed directions I can get on rewiring this lamp, so that it is properly grounded, is much appreciated.

It has an old two prong, not polarized plug.

 

[dave*99]

Have you tried flipping the non polarized plug over? You can also try to measure continuity between each plug prong and the lamp housing.
You don't have an intermittent ground issue since you have no ground. You could have an intermittent short issue. Short between wiring and frame.

 

[walta]

I really love this old Dazor lamp. It’s upgraded with GE LED T8 tubes that I have praised here on GJ. Recently, I touched the lamp and had my hand on my laptop at the same time.

There is an intermittent ground issue. I felt that prickly electrical sensation through my hand on the lamp.

I am not saavy when it comes to electrical issues. Any detailed directions I can get on rewiring this lamp, so that it is properly grounded, is much appreciated.

It has an old two prong,

The safe move is to replace the old 2 wire cord and plug with a 3 cord and plug connecting the ground wire to the metal base of the lamp. Assuming the old ballast has a little leakage to the case the new ground wire will safely carry it away. If the old ballast or wiring has a short circuit to the case it will now pop the breaker instead of shocking you.

Walta

 

[fishwatcher]

I think I need to do this. I’ve been just avoiding touching the lamp and my laptop, since I know of the potential of the minor tingly shock I can get.

I really want to make it work safely.

 

[four.cycle]

HaHa! My lamp is uglier than your lamp!

World's Ugliest Lamp

 

[four.cycle]

Sorry... I don't have any "Dazors" Just these old beat-up things...

 

[fishwatcher]

The safe move is to replace the old 2 wire cord and plug with a 3 cord and plug connecting the ground wire to the metal base of the lamp. Assuming the old ballast has a little leakage to the case the new ground wire will safely carry it away. If the old ballast or wiring has a short circuit to the case it will now pop the breaker instead of shocking you.

Walta

@walta - here’s a picture of the guts. Looks pretty straightforward to match up the black and white wires with a replacement three pronged cord. Which would be the best place to attach the ground? The star washers look really convenient.

The hex bolt heads don’t look as easy to remove, but make it’d be fine.

As for the ballasts.. I’d like to keep them as is. But if they were problematic, I’ve heard removing ballasts and direct wiring to LEDs is the way to go. That’d be a whole new phase of updating this lamp. Would I be able to keep my existing ge led tubes, or would I need different ones?

 

[walta]

You will need a power cord strain relief loke the one in this Amazon link. That will fit your new cord.

You will need to file out the hole in the lamp to fit the strain relief without the cord in the relief so when you install it with the cord it will be a very tight fit and not pull out without compressing the relief.

If you are happy with the way, it works now. I would keep the current LEDs and ballast until they stop working.

I would put the new green wire in a ring terminal and put it under the screw with the green arrow. If there is not room for it by the green arrow I would drill a hole by the yellow arrow and bolt the ring terminal there or any place where you will have room and the head of the bolt will not look out of place on the lamp.

20Pcs 6N-4 & 4N-4 Round Strain Relief Cord Connector Power Cord Strain Relief Black Nylon Insulating Cable Bush Grommet Electric Cables Protector for Wire Home Wire Cover Management: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

20Pcs 6N-4 & 4N-4 Round Strain Relief Cord Connector Power Cord Strain Relief Black Nylon Insulating Cable Bush Grommet Electric Cables Protector for Wire Home Wire Cover Management: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

Walta

 

[fishwatcher]

You will need a power cord strain relief loke the one in this Amazon link. That will fit your new cord.

You will need to file out the hole in the lamp to fit the strain relief without the cord in the relief so when you install it with the cord it will be a very tight fit and not pull out without compressing the relief.

If you are happy with the way, it works now. I would keep the current LEDs and ballast until they stop working.

I would put the new green wire in a ring terminal and put it under the screw with the green arrow. If there is not room for it by the green arrow I would drill a hole by the yellow arrow and bolt the ring terminal there or any place where you will have room and the head of the bolt will not look out of place on the lamp.

20Pcs 6N-4 & 4N-4 Round Strain Relief Cord Connector Power Cord Strain Relief Black Nylon Insulating Cable Bush Grommet Electric Cables Protector for Wire Home Wire Cover Management: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

20Pcs 6N-4 & 4N-4 Round Strain Relief Cord Connector Power Cord Strain Relief Black Nylon Insulating Cable Bush Grommet Electric Cables Protector for Wire Home Wire Cover Management: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

Walta

Thanks! I was definitely concerned about the strain relief. Thanks for the pointer. Getting the right new cord would be good too. I have a fairly new Home Depot HDX extension cord that I can use. It’s definitely thicker than the original, so your drill out recommendation makes sense.

Are these two areas with my arrows.. not good for the green ground wire?

 

[walta]

I am afraid that those screws go thru and the part they go into anchors to the springs that balance the light. In other threads people have found it difficult to reassemble the spring balance. Best not to mess with the working springs. Also. there may not be much clearance between the weight and the desk top or cover and the ring terminal could gouge the desk or make the cover not fit.

Note the hole for the strain relief will be D shaped not round

You want the thinnest 3 wire cord and plug you can source. Likely a power cord from a desktop computer.

 

[dave*99]

Agree^^. And bending the ground lug down into the recess in the weight only makes things worse.

 

[Stuart in MN]

Have you tried flipping the non polarized plug over? You can also try to measure continuity between each plug prong and the lamp housing.
You don't have an intermittent ground issue since you have no ground. You could have an intermittent short issue. Short between wiring and frame.

This is the issue. In the short term, just unplug it, flip over the plug, plug it back in, and the problem should go away. Then, go to the local hardware store, buy a modern polarized two prong plug, and put it on the existing cord.