I'm trying to replace an old ceiling fixture. Reason: one of the bulbs couldn't be removed and the socket was shot (but the bulb still worked until this morning).
The old fixture had (2) 60W bulbs -- each with a black and white wire "hard"-wired to their sockets (it was old). In the ceiling, there are (2) wires -- 1 black and 1 white (the wiring is old cloth-covered; originally the house had knob & tube/fuses).
The new fixture I purchased also had (2) 60W bulbs -- each with a black and white wire (so 4 wires total coming off the new fixture).
Trouble is, when I connect the fixture I can only get (1) bulb to light
-- the black lead bulb. I've tried all black-to-black & all white-to-white wiring; one white/one black to black (and one white/one black to white) -- and I get the same result. Then I tried each black and white on the fixture together and then to the black and white in the ceiling -- this resulted in nothing (no light) -- and not even a circuit trip.
Any idea what could be going on?
Thanks for any help/insight you can offer!