Fixing Frenchie (my vintage glitter lamp from France)

[Erin]

I got my first vintage French glitter lamp a week or so ago. It's nice, but a little dinged up. Though I have a plug converter for it, I'd like to rewire it for the US. I took it to a lamp repairman here and he thought I could use US bulbs on it even though it's wired for France. He took the bulb out of the glitter lamp, put it in a US lamp and it worked. However, I have tried several US bulbs and none of them will turn on in this lamp.

LampHead and Jim tell me it would be easy to rewire this lamp. I am not so confident. So, here's the pics of it...help!

[Erin]

Ok, so I got a new socket, cord, etc. However, with the socket that takes 40w appliance bulbs (but yes, I know I shouldn't use 40W), the bulb sits too high and the lamp won't rest on the internal metal bracket.

So, should I be looking for a smaller socket? A candelabra socket perhaps? Will that take a light strong enough to power this glitter lamp?

[Autumn]

You need a small base socket. You bought a medium base socket.

[Erin]

Can you link me to what I'm looking for so I don't buy the wrong thing?

[Autumn]

The newer china lamps require a soldering iron to take apart and callisto does no have one.

[Erin]

What he said.

[Erin]

Would this socket work?
http://www.antiquelampsupply.com/product/1795_keyless-porcelain-can...

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

Callisto, I see zero reason why your current setup wouldn't work. If you have a US socket, or one that'll hold a US-based bulb, there should be absolutely zero problems with putting a 110v. bulb in there and, with a prong adapter, using the original cord and plug. If your cord and plug seem okay (there's almost nothing that can go wrong with these and be invisible - if there's a short, it would make itself known, spectacularly!) and the only issue is the bulb being too high, there's an easier solution: either at your hardware or lamp store, or online, buy a medium-to-candelabra adapter. Just screw it into the socket, then screw in a 15w. bulb. If your hardware store doesn't have these bulbs, go to www.bulbman.com. Click "appliance bulbs", then "tube shape", then buy the model 15T7/CL, 120v. 15w.

I, personally, like keeping the original cords and plugs on these; the French often used extremely thin, fine cords and beautiful, sleek plugs. As said, if that socket will hold a standard US-size Edison/Medium base bulb, I think you can keep the rest. If you get a French lamp that has what looks like an intermediate socket (think old-fashioned outdoor Christmas lights with the big, beefy bulbs) these are European E12 bases, a size right between intermediate and E14 Candelabra. There are adapters for these, too; screw into a European base and put in a Candelabra base bulb.

http://www.greenelectricalsupply.com/light-socket-adapters.aspx
Socket adapters are here. There's a Medium-to-Candelabra (black plastic with brass Medium screw base outside) and a European-to-Candelabra (looks like a brass screw base from a bulb). Theirs are unusually inexpensive.

[Erin]

I bought a US socket today and the kind of bulbs it takes (I tried a 40W bulb) are too high.

So, are you telling me that I can take the (French) cord and run that wire into a US socket? The cord and plug are in good shape. So I can take this cord and run it into a US socket, or are you saying just keep the socket I have and find a medium to candelabra adapter?

Here's the bulb I think you're talking about:
http://www.bulbman.com/index.php?main_page=product_bulb_info&cP...

I have to admit, I'm lost. :(

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

That's the right bulb.

Yes, you've got it. Keep the cord and plug original. If a standard medium base bulb (like the one in your photos above) screws into the socket, keep the socket that's in there, too. If a US bulb won't light up in that socket, take a screwdriver and bend the contact in the bottom slightly upward - the problem may be that the bulb isn't screwing in far enough to hit the bottom contact.

Yes. You have a medium base socket in there. Buy the medium-to-candelabra adapter and some of those bulbs, and you're set. If you replaced the cord and plug, you can put the old French cord and plug back on, go to Radio Shack and buy the plug adapter - the cheap kind that doesn't change the current, just has flat prongs on one side and holes for you to plug in the French plug on the other. If the French cord and plug are still on there, same thing - keep 'em and use the plug adapter to put it in a US outlet.

If you get a lamp with a French/European size socket at some point, you can buy a European-to-candelabra adapter, use another of those plug adapters and the same candelabra-base bulb, and you're set.I love the thin French cords and nifty old French plugs, so I keep them on the lamps.

[Erin]

Thanks so much for all your help Jonas. I appreciate it! I'll update this thread when I pick a solution!

To be honest, I have no interest in keeping the cord, but we'll see. I also DO have one of those adapter from RadioShack. Just an adapter, no power conversion. Works great.

[Jonas Clark-Elliott]

If there are French cords/plugs you remove from lamps and don't want, I'll happily take them off your hands. I just refilled an Italian plastic glitter that came to me, from a local junk shop, with the original European socket but with an awful replacement cord.

[Erin]

I will keep that in mind! I have parts and bulbs on the way. I got so tired of running back and forth to the hardware stores, I just ordered what I needed online. Much easier and it saves me time. :) Home Depot did not have any of the intermediate style sockets, either.

Thanks for all your help Jonas. You're invaluable!