Can Anyone Help With A Vintage Light Issue?

mrscott · Post by **mrscott** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:15 pm

Hi, i'm trying to work out what i need to purchase to replace the internals of a vintage lamp with 2 bulbs and a footwitch. It's one of those german style lava lamps with a large shade and it has a bulb at the top and also a bulb in the base connected via rod, it has a footswitch that cycles between, top, bottom, both and off. I have taken a few pictures of the internal electrics. Is there a modern drop in replacement for this type of light? I assume i use the existing metal rod and replace the wiring somehow, I've googled and searched several times for a replacement but can't seem to find anything with the dual bulb/footswitch combo, Any help would be greatly appreciated. Regards. Scott.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 6:42 pm

Which bits actually need replacing and why?

It does not look like a lava lamp to me. Lava lamp to me is

: ll.jpg (5.32 KiB) Viewed 1524 times

ayjay · Post by **ayjay** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:14 pm

Lava refers to the glaze on the ceramic body.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:27 pm

oh. I did not know that.

mrscott · Post by **mrscott** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 7:41 pm

i do have a multimeter actually and I do know the footswitch popped then smoked and is all black inside. i'm not sure if i have the skills to rewire it as such from the ground up, i was wondering if this kind of fitting has a name so i can get a prewired replacement to 'drop in' so to speak. Yes, sorry, went a bit antiques roadshow, its the name of that type of glaze, at auction, with the wind behind it, on a good day, to the right buyer, etc

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 8:20 pm

Table lamps etc are custom made, so you have no chance of finding something to "drop in."

You have two lamp holders, and a switch, which bits are you wanting to replace?

It will have to be you or a competent person who does change what ever, I doubt an electrician would be interested. (unless the money was right, which would be a lot, making it not worth it.)

mrscott · Post by **mrscott** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:10 pm

i definitely need to replace the footswitch and the top lampholder looks like it needs replacing, one of the prongs looks loose, i was wanting to replace it all, but i could keep the mounting rod and bottom lamp holder. So id need a lamp holder for the top, cable to connect both lamp holders (replacing the brown cable) a footswitch and some of the white power cabling? Are those type of footswitches something speific for different switching options or do you do that via how you wire it up. Thanks for the replies btw.

mrscott · Post by **mrscott** » Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:22 pm

actually, i think the brown wires are fine and the lamp holder, i just need a footswitch and the electrical cable.

Grumps · Post by **Grumps** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 12:51 pm

I would expect the cable from the footswitch to be 4 core. I can see an Earth connection.

The footswitch, although probably unique, I would expect to be a simple mechanical device. There is likely to be a high resistance across one of the contacts which has caused accumulated dust and carpet fibres to burn which, in turn, may have damaged a spring or two. However, even those can normally be replaced.

https://www.leespring.co.uk/

Does it come apart? Can you provide a photo of the inards?

If it can’t be repaired then you could use a two gang Rocker switch in a plastic pattress box although cable restraints could involve some ingenuity.

Someone-Else · Post by **Someone-Else** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 2:03 pm

mrscott wrote: ↑Sat Feb 20, 2021 9:22 pmactually, i think the brown wires are fine and the lamp holder, i just need a footswitch and the electrical cable.

Unless you want umpteen metres of cable (which you don't*) you can get a new lampholder and cable and switch from a DIY shed, or even Amazon

*Buying multiples you would be better off at screwfix or toolstation, but you don't need multiples.

ericmark · Post by **ericmark** » Sun Feb 21, 2021 3:25 pm

All bits are available, but is like building a car from spares it can cost more than a new one.

I am not sure if light shines through the bit shown, or if just a decorative pedestal? IKEA do sell spairs for their lamps, with twin switches etc.

In the main their lights E27 (ES) and E14 (SES), not many BA22d. But would guess you will want LED and it is down to what will fit to put light in right area, so may need golf ball bulbs.

I would not normally use a meter for building a lamp, may be a PAT tester if being sold, but the big question is brass fittings needing an earth or plastic and class II?