Squiggle lamp - Have some questions

[Erin]

Hello! I received my first Squiggle lamp today. Pretty decent lamp, except it smelled like smoke! I have a few questions, so if anyone can help me out, I'd greatly appreciate it.

1) What's the best way to clean a Squiggle base? A few strands of the gold paint are missing and I want to make sure I don't use something too harsh and damage the lamp.

2) This thing overheats quickly. It's got a 30W bulb (one of those spotlight looking ones). I'm hoping there's a 20 or 25W bulb. Thoughts? The lava was all at the top (none in the coil) within a few hours (3).

3) I'm thinking that problem ^ has something to do with the fact there's very little wax in this globe. It might overheat so quickly 'cause there's not much wax. I've heard of liquid evaporating from the lamps, but not wax. Why so little wax in this lamp?

4) Any way to tell the age of this lamp? There's no markings anywhere.

5) Are these screw-off caps, too?

6) The lamp needs new felt on the bottom. What was the original color felt on these? And what's the best adhesive to use to glue a new felt piece on?

Any help would be appreciated. :) Thank you!

[Erin]

There does seem to be something weird with the wax in older lamps. It's really runny. I've noticed that clear/reds from the 70s don't seem to have this problem, but my yellow/orange and my blue/green have super runny wax. Almost like gel or something when it's hot. Is there any truth to the different colored wax from the 70s being a different consistency?

Thanks for all your answers Dr. I am hesitant to open up/fix any old lamps since I like to maintain their authenticity, so I'll just run it some more and see what happens.

I thought Squiggles first came out in the 60s...

I did find a photo on Hippielight of a Squiggle and it had a yellowish felt base.

[Keith]

Since it overheats you would probably be alright with a 25w. Or you could try a 30w appliance bulb, the spotlight bulb may be directing too much heat to the globe.

[Erin]

I'm just hoping an appliance bulb will fit in there.

Thanks Keith.

[fog rider]

Most likely, the 30 watt bulb isn't the problem.

Notice that your fluid level is quite low. For some reason older lamps lose a bit of water, even though the caps are sealed with an o-ring (yes indeed, the cap does screw on and off).

If you remove the cap (when the lamp is cold) and add a little distilled water to the fluid, this will have the effect of lowering the specific gravity ("density") of the liquid, and then the wax will not float so high in the globe.

The trick is to get the fluid density, globe temperature and fluid level all correct at the same time.

Don't worry too much about the fluid level. It will be what it will be. As long as there's an air spece left in the top of the globe to allow for fluid expansion when the globe is heated. I find that you can pretty much fill these old globes up to the bottom of the cap safely, if you really have to. Older globes tended to have lower fluid levels than later globes.

Start by adding a little distilled water, resealing the globe and do a test run to full operating temperature. If the wax still floats too high, remove the cap (make sure the globe has cooled down before removing the cap) add a little more distilled water, and try running the lamp again. Eventually you'll get it just right.

Try not to overdo it with the water. If you add to much, then the wax will just hover on the coil and not flow at all. If that does happen let me know and I'll tell you haw to fix that particular problem.

You have a lot of space left in that globe, so you should have no problem gatting it right if you proceed slowly.

The old lamps had very little wax in them. They tend to flow in long, delicate strings, which I personally find quite attractive.

Best way to clean a smoked up squiggle base: try a "Magic Eraser" cleaning pad (available at most grocerie stores). I used one on my Music Box squiggle lamp (it was covered in cigarette tar) and it turned out very well. Test clean a small patch at the rear of the lamp to be certain before cleaning the whole lamp.

You can't date the squiggles exactly. Most were mid to late '60's models.

The felt on my squiggles is tan colored.

Hope that helps.

[Erin]

THANK YOU! That helps immensely. I appreciate your response! I will be getting felt this weekend to re-felt some of my older globes.

What's the best way to adhere new felt? Would Elmer's glue be ok?

[Erin]

Thank you! I picked some up today, actually. :)

[matt01165]

Way to go! Try a in line dimmer switch for wax flow control.

[Erin]

Woot! 60s! This makes it my only 60s lamp.

[matt01165]

It really doesn't look that low to me.

[Erin]

This is what I have after less than 3 hours. No wax left in coil. All at the top:

[matt01165]

did you try using a dimmer switch. older lamps have shorter run times

[Erin]

No, not yet. By shorter do you mean two hours?

I'm going to try a lesser wattage bulb first. Easier fixes first. ;)