Ingredients:
1 old lamp: $12
3 sockets: $12
1 cord with plug: $10
Tools:
Wire cutter: $6
Wire stripper: $10
Screw driver
Metal brush
Swiss army knife
Super glue
Time: 4 hrs
(No cost attached, especially not at a consultant’s hourly rates :P)
How did you end up rewiring a lamp, Thu? Isn’t there something else you should be doing instead?
Practice what you preach.
That old wisdom that makes doers do and makers make. I don’t claim to be an exceptional doer nor a gifted maker but my obsession with fine handcrafts is real. Craft is at the center of what I do: our startup, our consulting work, our clients, and how I spend my weekend. I also have a soft spot for anything well designed. Call it a professional hazard.
That’s why when I saw a virtual auction for all things Mid Century Modern (MCM), my head followed my heart and my heart followed my hands as I clicked away and watched item after item slipping away under my tight purse string. As a startup dreamer who recently went through a job transition, I can’t compete with what seemingly are the ‘bottomless’ wallets of Long Islanders. Tough competition where I am when it comes to collecting and preserving a piece of history.
When hope just started to dwindle, an item caught my eyes at the end of the auction— a spring loaded lamp, MCM, with original fiberglass and teak wood. I told you I’m slightly obsessed. No shame needed.
“Have got to be in the 50–60s"
> “must be expensive”
>> “but it’s so beautiful”
>>> “ok, fine. let me see the price. prepare for impact…”
>>>> “8 bucks?!?! That’s unreal. What’s wrong with it?”
That’s exactly my thought process and sure enough, the description read “Trio spring lamp for repairs. Condition as is.”
The wires were badly damage. The fiber glass — which is a staple design feature of the MCM area and a signifier of authentic pieces — was also cracked and dented.
What could be wrong? Maybe I can fix it. Imagine IF!
This is almost always how I start any project. By being attracted to the problem and not always knowing the solution😅.
Not all those who wander are lost?
I have never wired anything. I have no electrical tools and I’m pretty sure the investment up front to buy wire cutter, stripper, plus electrical wires, plugs, bulbs++ is fueled by the excitement to do. Imagine a world where I can wire a lamp!
If you’ve read this far and thought 'What is the point of this?’ Well, the point is I’m prepared to share How I wired a lamp. And the second point is that there is no point, no agenda. I just felt like I did something good today, and positivity is best shared in a time like this.
Sometimes we fall apart just so we can put ourselves back together
#1: Taking all of the pieces apart and trying to memorize where everything was.
#2: Clip away old damaged wires with the Wire Cutter. Hint: leave enough extra wires on everything you cut. I had to threw out a socket because I got excited using the cutter and cut too close (hence there was not enough wire to reattach.)
#3: Using the Wire Stripper, remove the wire from your new wires about 0.5 inches or .75 cm and replace the old damaged wires with the new ones. Hint: Be sure to find out for yourself which one is the Hot wire and which one is the Neutral wire. Don’t throw away the packaging like I did and had to Google for it.
What you’re seeing down here is the switch wires setup— the ability to turn on the switch and only certain lamp would lit up. I had to follow the wiring that was here so be sure to take note when you take things apart.
Usually, the Hot wire is black or have special marking and the Neutral wire is white. This is important for safety and to reduce over heating.
#4: Attaching the wires to the light sockets using a screw driver: the Hot wire to the Brass / Bronze color screw and the Neutral wire to the Silver / White color screw. Screw tight!
#5: Once you feel that the wires are secured onto the socket, attach the socket only the lamp itself. Depending on which lamp you have, the components may be different. For me, they come in brass screw and teak wood. MCM all the way!
#6: This lamp has some badly damaged fiber glass parts due to age and usage. (Also tbh I think the positioning of these original screws are not optimal for weight distribution since two out of the three lamps have damage in this way. Even the MCM design masters have something to improve.) Using super glue, I pieced them back together and Pi the Husky inspected along the way.
#7: To avoid further weight damage to the lamps, I invented a new way to keep the screws from damaging the wood and fiberglass. Cutting a simple clear padding and middle hole to allow for extra protection. Super excited for this trick.
#8: Holding my breath and turning on the lamp.
It is alive!
Now — a spring loaded lamp is cool because it can stand just by using the pressure made by the inner spring. Mr. Frankenstein will have something to have his tea by, and Pi agrees this is a good addition to our home.
