Lamp sockets that don't suck

[JoeSpareBedroom]

Anyone know of a good source for lamp sockets that don't turn to crap in two years? Just replaced the 3-way bulb in a typical Lowe's made-in-China lamp and found that the switch was bad, not the bulb.

[Tony Hwang]

Hi, Try to find a real vintage one at garage sale or flea market.

[DD_BobK]

not cheap

(edision%20E-26)%20Base%20Socket

I have purchased repair parts for antique lamps & fixtures that I wanted to restore...good stuff.

cheers Bob

[Existential Angst]

not cheap

(edision%20E-26)%20Base%20Socket

I have purchased repair parts for antique lamps & fixtures that I wanted to restore...good stuff.

============================================

A venerable, uh, fixture in lower Manhattan -- surprised they're still around, glad they made it to the web. They have every conceivable fitting, doohickey, and variety of fancy cloth/satin zip cord you can imagine.

NYC has a number of lighting specialists, manufacturers, etc. Yupsters needing to read their WSJ's in some splendor, I spose.....

[Existential Angst]

Is it the switch itself, ie the rotating knob ditty that goes bad? Almost guarownteed in these shit lamps, clamp-ons, Staple stuff. The switch starts grinding, getting harder and harder to turn..

I put 3--in-1 oil down the shaft of the switch. I think it's important to do this early, cuz once that goddamm switch starts grinding, failure is not far away. The oil seems to significantly extend the life even at the grinding point, but best to catch it even earlier.

I believe this is deliberate -- nothing is "allowed" to last anymore.

[George]

You might try going to a real electric supply supply house and ask for non big box quality. There are at least three in my area that will sell you either big box quality or real sockets.

[JoeSpareBedroom]

not cheap

(edision%20E-26)%20Base%20Socket

I have purchased repair parts for antique lamps & fixtures that I wanted to restore...good stuff.

cheers Bob

===============

Interesting source, and not overpriced when compared with having my house burn down.

[Eric in North TX]

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Bookmarked that one, thanks Bob

[Marilyn & Bob]

(edision%20E-26)%20Base%20Socket>

Unfortunately, they closed their store in NYC a few years ago. I think they only sell web/mail order now.

[EXT]

What you want are ceramic sockets with brass threaded inserts. Avoid any plastic with aluminum inserts, the plastic will become brittle and crack and the aluminum will corrode with the bulb base, so that the bulbs will not unscrew without breaking.

[DD_BobK]

.

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If they closed there store that's a bummer for NYC area folks.

But by having a web presence and keeping up with the times, they've saved a great resource for those of use who repair / restore old fixtures & lamps. Having this type of selection available at reasonable prices makes it possible to repair & restore instead of just trashing them.

cheers Bob

[Jules]

It's nothing new, although it feels* like it - see:

for a depressing read :-)

• I think part of the reason it's got worse is that people stopped caring about doing routine maintenance, so manufacturers found ways of making stuff last just that little bit longer than something that wasn't maintained properly - and of course they could easily sell it to the lazy masses as "improved reliability" :-(

[Oren]

Thanks for the link. I have repaired/fixed numerous old floor lamps and use them daily. That site has all the parts I would need - 2" porcelain 2-3/16in. SOCKET. Even found a UNO threaded socket for a brass desk lamp .

[Existential Angst]

Excellent point.

And for these shitty rotary or push-switch sockets, they must have a whole R&D pgm devoted to getting the failure timed just right. It's really inexcusable, quite a hostile act toward the consumer.

Some of these Grand-street type sockets will last pert near 100 years. The only thing that goes bad is the insulating cardboard wears out -- which nylon would address right nice.

[Jules]

Not hard, I suppose - build a few automated test rigs to test the switches to destruction, and keep weakening the parts until you get one that breaks right when you want it to :-)

Main problems I've seen with really old electrical stuff is that switch contacts can eventually wear/burn out (difficult to do a DIY fix), and the old insulating bodies can break down and create a low-resistance path across the body...