Defective Century? Or am I doing it wrong? - Oozing Goo - The Lava Lamp Syndicate2024-03-28T20:16:31Zhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/defective-century-or-am-i-doing-it-wrong?commentId=1566398%3AComment%3A525617&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI have an old Century base li…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-03-30:1566398:Comment:5257622014-03-30T16:50:17.397ZSnickshttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/Snicks
<p>I have an old Century base like this. I used the heat ring from another lamp to mold a new one out of heavy tin foil. The sockets sit lower in the old bases, so the heat ring from a newer lamp won't work, and I had to extend the foil heat ring accordingly. Works great with a 40watt and a newer US globe, and I still get enough light through the pinhole base.</p>
<p>I have an old Century base like this. I used the heat ring from another lamp to mold a new one out of heavy tin foil. The sockets sit lower in the old bases, so the heat ring from a newer lamp won't work, and I had to extend the foil heat ring accordingly. Works great with a 40watt and a newer US globe, and I still get enough light through the pinhole base.</p> I'd think you could fake a he…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-03-29:1566398:Comment:5256472014-03-29T17:45:46.445ZRed Letourhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/RedLetour
<p>I'd think you could fake a heating ring by carefully cutting up a soda can with a tinsnips. Or folding up some heavy duty aluminum foil and working with that first. If nothing else, you can't cut yourself on aluminum foil and a regular scissor will cut it, so you can figure out the shape to start with.</p>
<p>I'd think you could fake a heating ring by carefully cutting up a soda can with a tinsnips. Or folding up some heavy duty aluminum foil and working with that first. If nothing else, you can't cut yourself on aluminum foil and a regular scissor will cut it, so you can figure out the shape to start with.</p> CORRECT!!!!! Heating rings we…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-03-29:1566398:Comment:5256272014-03-29T03:41:45.883ZKemptonhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/Kempton
<p>CORRECT!!!!! Heating rings were not added until later. I am not sure but i know atleast late 70s probably late to mid 8-s<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Jeff said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/defective-century-or-am-i-doing-it-wrong#1566398Comment508388"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Interesting the '75 didn't have it. Mine was from '89 and still had it. Maybe they only used them in the 80s and…</p>
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<p>CORRECT!!!!! Heating rings were not added until later. I am not sure but i know atleast late 70s probably late to mid 8-s<br/> <br/> <cite>Jeff said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/defective-century-or-am-i-doing-it-wrong#1566398Comment508388"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Interesting the '75 didn't have it. Mine was from '89 and still had it. Maybe they only used them in the 80s and 90s?</p>
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<div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Try the globe on an aristocrat base. Century bases do run much cooler than aristocrat bases.</p>
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</div> One thing you need to remembe…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-03-29:1566398:Comment:5256172014-03-29T01:28:11.144ZTomKhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/TomKuhnJr
<p>One thing you need to remember if you are going to use the heat ring is that it will greatly decrease the amount of light that comes down & out of the starlite holes in the base. I have found that 60W bulbs work just fine in the Centurys requiring more heat but I use dimmers with mine to insure they don't overheat.<br></br> <br></br> <cite>Reed said:…</cite></p>
<p>One thing you need to remember if you are going to use the heat ring is that it will greatly decrease the amount of light that comes down & out of the starlite holes in the base. I have found that 60W bulbs work just fine in the Centurys requiring more heat but I use dimmers with mine to insure they don't overheat.<br/> <br/> <cite>Reed said:</cite></p>
<blockquote cite="http://oozinggoo.ning.com/forum/topics/defective-century-or-am-i-doing-it-wrong?xg_source=activity#1566398Comment508628"><div><div class="xg_user_generated"><p>Jeff wins the prize! My beat up old Century is indeed missing the heat ring. Is this something that I can fabricate or purchase new?</p>
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</blockquote> I was very disappointed when…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-03-29:1566398:Comment:5256082014-03-29T01:05:38.010ZRed Letourhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/RedLetour
<p>I was very disappointed when the bulb on my gen-you-whine new Mathmos Telstar burned out in 90 days and the only replacement "mini reflector spots" I could find online were 25 watt bulbs, versus the 40w it came with. 25W just doesn't work properly.</p>
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<p>I would up buying a pack of "bi-pin" bulb bases on Amazon.…</p>
<p>I was very disappointed when the bulb on my gen-you-whine new Mathmos Telstar burned out in 90 days and the only replacement "mini reflector spots" I could find online were 25 watt bulbs, versus the 40w it came with. 25W just doesn't work properly.</p>
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<p>I would up buying a pack of "bi-pin" bulb bases on Amazon. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPCACVM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00DPCACVM/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=...</a></p>
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<p>While these say 12 volt, they show no signs of heat problems at 120V. Most "bi-pin" sockets are for one specific size, like "G4" 4mm pin separation. These accommodate something like 4-10mm bases, so they will work with 20 watt ("G4" 4mm pins) or larger 25W, 30W, 40W, etc. similar bi-pin bulbs.</p>
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<p>I do not like bi-pin bulbs, they're expensive, about $5 each discount, often $9 each MSRP. But they are SMALL enough to fit in the TelStar lamp and you can adjust the heat by using a different wattage of bulb. And they're common in larger hardware stores and lighting stores, unlike the mini-spot.</p>
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<p>So...I carefully cracked the glass off the dead bulb, and soldered the leads from the bi-pin socket to the leads that used to support the filament in the dead bulb. Then I used plumber's epoxy (heat resistant, easy to mold, no sags) to fill and insulate the top of the old screw-in base.</p>
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<p>Now I have a bi-pin socket that can screw into the existing original mini candelabra base. I screwed it in, bent the leads around so I could test fit the new bi-pin bulb (I started with 30W) and voila, the TelStar is working again with a COMMONLY AVAILABLE BULB. I wanted to be able to bend the leads and move the bulb because I wasn't sure if it would work and fit better horizontally or vertically. (Either one seems fine.)</p>
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<p>I think 35W or 40W will be better, it was just out of stock at the time.</p>
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<p>When I get around to it, I will buy a piece of pipe nipple and new power cord. Then I'll remove the original cord and socket and set it aside "for posterity" and install the new bi-pin base directly on a new cord.</p>
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<p>And I'll be able to use a variety of commonly available bulbs.</p>
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<p>Real simple conversion, and it could be done in ANY of the lava lamps, although a plain 40W appliance bulb will always be the simplest and cheapest way to go.</p>
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<p>Bi-pin sockets and bulbs can be an oddity, but don't overlook then when space is tight, or when you want the option of different wattage bulbs. Lowes carries about twice the selection that Home Depot does, but they're available from many sources. Sometimes $10/10 bulbs from ebay direct from China, which is damned hard to beat.</p> First off to clear up. Centur…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-02-20:1566398:Comment:5165412014-02-20T04:01:29.401ZKemptonhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/Kempton
<p>First off to clear up. Century bases are colder than aristocrat bases. I would try a 60 on a dimmer. Some of my really old century bases need a dimmed 60 to work. </p>
<p>Next the heat rings. They were introduced around 1990. No 70s century lamps had them. Some late 80s may have them. If the dimmed 60 doesn't work post the results. Another method you can do is to raise the bulb. I have never modified a base, but i remember seeing it to get bulbs closer.</p>
<p>First off to clear up. Century bases are colder than aristocrat bases. I would try a 60 on a dimmer. Some of my really old century bases need a dimmed 60 to work. </p>
<p>Next the heat rings. They were introduced around 1990. No 70s century lamps had them. Some late 80s may have them. If the dimmed 60 doesn't work post the results. Another method you can do is to raise the bulb. I have never modified a base, but i remember seeing it to get bulbs closer.</p> Im not sure about USA aristoc…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-02-20:1566398:Comment:5162802014-02-20T02:12:00.767ZIanhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/IanRamsey
<p>Im not sure about USA aristocrat bases, but I do know that the century bases are alot cooler than the china aristocrat bases. My USA purple/yellow flows beautifully on the black neon china base, but on my century base (with a 40w bulb and the heat ring) it barely gets hot enough to send up pea shooters. Both of my century bases are like this, but both of the globes they came with get plenty hot enough to flow, and they flow beautifully. If I put the century globes on my china aristocrat…</p>
<p>Im not sure about USA aristocrat bases, but I do know that the century bases are alot cooler than the china aristocrat bases. My USA purple/yellow flows beautifully on the black neon china base, but on my century base (with a 40w bulb and the heat ring) it barely gets hot enough to send up pea shooters. Both of my century bases are like this, but both of the globes they came with get plenty hot enough to flow, and they flow beautifully. If I put the century globes on my china aristocrat bases, they get really overheated.</p> I have five Century's and onl…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-02-20:1566398:Comment:5164662014-02-20T01:54:17.200ZTodd Millerhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/ToddMiller
<p>I have five Century's and only the last lamp I got from</p>
<p>ebay had the heat ring.</p>
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<p>Playing around will all my misc 52oz bottles & bases,</p>
<p>I can say for a fact that the Century bases take a long</p>
<p>to heat up compared to a 32oz.</p>
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<p>I plan on making some heat rings, even for my two giant's.</p>
<p>I've seen some metal cups at the thrift store and what not.</p>
<p>I'll have to look for poached egg cups or ask the wife when</p>
<p>she comes…</p>
<p>I have five Century's and only the last lamp I got from</p>
<p>ebay had the heat ring.</p>
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<p>Playing around will all my misc 52oz bottles & bases,</p>
<p>I can say for a fact that the Century bases take a long</p>
<p>to heat up compared to a 32oz.</p>
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<p>I plan on making some heat rings, even for my two giant's.</p>
<p>I've seen some metal cups at the thrift store and what not.</p>
<p>I'll have to look for poached egg cups or ask the wife when</p>
<p>she comes home.</p>
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<p></p> I found some poached egg cups…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-02-20:1566398:Comment:5165352014-02-20T01:30:14.308ZNancyhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/Nancy
<p>I found some poached egg cups, stailess steel. Cut the bottoms out and fitted it, need to remove a little around the edges but they work fine.<br/> </p>
<p>I found some poached egg cups, stailess steel. Cut the bottoms out and fitted it, need to remove a little around the edges but they work fine.<br/> </p> The long necked bulb I tried…tag:oozinggoo.ning.com,2014-01-21:1566398:Comment:5086332014-01-21T07:02:13.892ZReedhttps://oozinggoo.ning.com/profile/Reed
<p>The long necked bulb I tried was like the one in that Home Depot link. No luck with flow.</p>
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<p>Looking at this page (<a href="http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/century" target="_blank">http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/century</a> ), I believe my lamp is actually from the early 70s (faded gold finish, plastic feet on the base). Here is what the inside and outside of my Century base look like:</p>
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<p>[IMG]…</p>
<p>The long necked bulb I tried was like the one in that Home Depot link. No luck with flow.</p>
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<p>Looking at this page (<a href="http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/century" target="_blank">http://oozinggoo.ning.com/page/century</a> ), I believe my lamp is actually from the early 70s (faded gold finish, plastic feet on the base). Here is what the inside and outside of my Century base look like:</p>
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<p>[IMG]<a rel="nofollow" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG_1345.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG...</a>[/IMG]</p>
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<p>[IMG]<a rel="nofollow" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG_1346.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG...</a>[/IMG]</p>
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<p>It certainly looks like there COULD be a heat shield in the bottom of the top cup, there even seems to be a corrosion ring around the inner circumference. The plastic base is cracked an the inside is rusty. It is obvious that this lamp has had a hard 40 years so it is very possible the ring was there originally and has gone missing.</p>
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<p>Just for kicks, here are some glamour shots of my two Aristocrats:</p>
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<p>This one works beautifully:</p>
<p>[IMG]<a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG_1348.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG_1348.jpg</a>[/IMG]</p>
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<p>This guy has to be run with a dimmer so he takes a while to wake up:</p>
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<p>[IMG]<a rel="nofollow" href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG_1350.jpg" target="_blank">http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v484/slantsixgoon/lava%20lamp/IMG...</a>[/IMG]</p>
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<p>Any info on where I could find a heat ring for my Century and a new globe would be greatly appreciated.</p>
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<p>Hmmm. Looks like my photobucket links aren't working. If you click on them the picture will pop up. :(</p>