Need advice, Please, on a Midnight Century

[Marley's Ghost]

I'll try to cut to the chase, but I have several issues with this lovely lamp, so this is lengthy.  When received, the Postal Service had done the football playing thing with this lamp, and the wax was turned upside down with the coil on top.  I gently tilted it until it flipped back over into position. Upon starting, it had a stuck flow, just a large dome, so I removed the provided 40 watt bulb, and replaced it with a 60 watt, removed the reflector at the same time, and put the lamp on a dimmer. 

Now it appears the globe is sitting "on" the bulb, it was when I got it, and even with the reflector removed it still is.   I have a Wizard that does that too, but the Century socket holder cannot be bent down like the Wizard. 

The lamp flows well now, liquid clear initially, but after a couple of hours, the water clouds up and the wax looks grainy and has a few bubbles, especially at the top.  A blob always stays in the top with bubbles in it, despite the dimmer.  

When first turned on, it spikes beautifully, but only up "one" side and when it does, that side rises with the spikes and tilts the unheated part of the wax blob and shows the coil.   The unmelted top wax takes forever to melt, but when it does, the coil drops back in place.  But that hard to melt 3/4" top part of wax stays a nearly black color, instead of a lighter purple like the wax that was on the bottom and melted first.  Even after running, I have two colors of wax.   I don't know how to get it from sitting on the bulb, and am not sure I should have removed the reflector, but it does not seem to make a difference.  

Is the wax fried?  Am I doing something wrong?  This is a beautiful lamp, and has a bottle that was one of the last made in the USA from what I read on here.  I don't dare goo kit it.   It is a clear/purple 52 oz. made in 2002.  If I turn the dimmer down any more, I might as well put the 40 watt bulb back in and then it will have a big dome, stuck flow and nothing more.  Any advice would be greatly appreciated.  

[Brad]

i would cycle the lamp for a week or so using a timer - 8 hours on, 8 off.  that tends to help with cloudiness.  are you able to post some photos of the issue?  that would help!  good luck.

[Marley's Ghost]

Thanks, Brad.   I did as you said for three weeks.  It still clouds up and the wax gets grainy.  Sorry, I tried to post photos twice before and keep getting the message that a mere snapshot is too large.  I don't know how to post pictures apparently. I don't know which way to use, fast or just browsing to upload.  

Should the lamp be sitting on the bulb??   My Wizard does too.

[Brad]

hmm...you could post the photos to tinypic and then post the link to this thread.

not sure about the globe sitting on the globe - someone else could help with that question as i don't have any centuries.

[Marley's Ghost]

I'll try to post some photos, Brad, but I can't even get them to post on my own page. I've never had problems before, don't know what's wrong.   Thanks for your help!   Love your photos on your page!

[Brad]

thanks!  if you can't get them to upload here, try uploading to www.tinypic.com.  it's free.

[Kirk]

It sounds like your wax may need a boiling and your liquid may need a filtering. Can u email pictures? If so, I'll PM my email address to you.

What kind of bulb is in it? Is it a regular old 40/60 watt? Is the socket loose? Does it look like a standard socket or is there a socket extender screwed in to it?

[Marley's Ghost]

Thanks, Brad, I'll give that a try if I can't get them to upload on my own.
 
Brad said:

thanks!  if you can't get them to upload here, try uploading to www.tinypic.com.  it's free.

[Marley's Ghost]

I can email you pictures, Kirk, just can't get them to upload here.  I don't have it running right now, but will fire it up in a few minutes.  Standard socket, not loose, no extender, and a regular old roundish 40 watt was in it, which I replaced with the same thing, but in 60 watt. (And removed reflector and put on a dimmer)   These bulbs are smaller than the regular appliance bulbs of the same wattage, and shorter, and are clear.
 
Kirk said:

It sounds like your wax may need a boiling and your liquid may need a filtering. Can u email pictures? If so, I'll PM my email address to you.

What kind of bulb is in it? Is it a regular old 40/60 watt? Is the socket loose? Does it look like a standard socket or is there a socket extender screwed in to it?

[Kirk]

If you email them to me (sent u a PM), I can upload them to the discussion for you.

I'm looking for an excuse to avoid a couple of unpleasant work tasks....

[Marley's Ghost]

LOL, I'll email as soon as I can.  Would love to help you avoid unpleasant work tasks......:-)    Got PM, THX!!!
 
Kirk said:

If you email them to me (sent u a PM), I can upload them to the discussion for you.

I'm looking for an excuse to avoid a couple of unpleasant work tasks....

[Keith]

What are the large numbers on the cap?  The globe sitting on the bulb can cause problems.  You might try to find a 40 watt spot floodlight, since you already have a dimmer you can control overheating.

[Marley's Ghost]

Hi Keith,  the large numbers at the beginning are 109A and was made 02-19-02.  Thank you for the bulb advice and your reply!  
 
Keith said:

What are the large numbers on the cap?  The globe sitting on the bulb can cause problems.  You might try to find a 40 watt spot floodlight, since you already have a dimmer you can control overheating.