Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Someplace just to show that reel collectors do have a life
Post Reply
User avatar
Mike N
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3763
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:50 pm
Location: WV

Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Mike N »

I picked up a pair of old industrial, gooseneck office desk lamps circa 1930s at an antique flea market for $15 last weekend. They needed to be cleaned and have their cords replaced. The great thing is you now can order new vintage-look, cloth-covered cords for only $7 on line.

I got one rewired today and put it on a table I made out of an old drawer to light an old mallard boot scrape.










Next up is this one, which has a scalloped base that reminded me of a Kosmic metal bait. That’s a lot of vintage for $7.50 plus a new cord.

Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
User avatar
john elder
Star Board Poster
Posts: 8541
Joined: Mon Sep 22, 2003 2:44 pm

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by john elder »

What a great idea! They came out really nice, Mike!
ORCA member since 1999
Honorary Life Member

Specializing in saltwater reels...and fly reels...and oh, yeah, kentucky style reels.....and those tiny little RP reels.....oh, heck...i collect fishing reels!...and fly rods....and lures
User avatar
Mike N
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3763
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:50 pm
Location: WV

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Mike N »

Finished the scalloped lamp this evening. The new cloth covered cord would not fit through the hole in the lamp base so I had to bore it larger with a metal drill bit.


I like the old Edison-style lightbulbs.
Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
User avatar
kyreels
Super Board Poster
Posts: 1147
Joined: Mon Feb 06, 2006 6:12 pm
Location: Louisville, Kentucky

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by kyreels »

Outstanding restoration, love it. I am obsessed with changing to LED bulbs due to the energy savings. They make an Edison LED bulb now. I am down to 600 kWh/month (in non-air condition months) compared to 1000 kWh avg for my neighborhood, despite having an electric dryer.
Matt Wickham
Collector of Casting Weights, KY Reels and KY Tackle
Paul Roberts
Super Board Poster
Posts: 792
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 1:35 pm

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Paul Roberts »

Wonderful! Very nice job. I recently purchased two similar restored goosenecks from a local antique shop. Not as nice a job as yours but passable and one is the lamp I work under on my mission oak reel-work desk.
ORCA 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
User avatar
Mike N
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3763
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:50 pm
Location: WV

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Mike N »

Paul,

Thanks. I picked up a third gooseneck lamp with ornamental base on eBay for $26 and after a bit of Kramer’s Best Antiques Restorer all-natural oil, got this result:

Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
User avatar
Mike N
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3763
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:50 pm
Location: WV

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Mike N »

I’ve used Kramer’s for a few years now on metal and wood to restore the luster to antiques. They advertise on the label “museum quality,” and I can see why,

Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
User avatar
Midway Tommy D
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3135
Joined: Sun Jan 20, 2013 11:23 pm
Location: Eastern NE

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Midway Tommy D »

Mike,
Looks really nice! Have you tried that stuff on any sun bleached/UV dulled plastic yet? I wonder if the oil would bring back the original sheen.
Love those Open Face Spinning Reels! (Especially ABU & ABU/Zebco)

Tom DeLong, NE
ORCA Member - 2027
Paul Roberts
Super Board Poster
Posts: 792
Joined: Mon Dec 14, 2020 1:35 pm

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Paul Roberts »

Thanks, Mike.
ORCA 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
User avatar
Mike N
Star Board Poster
Posts: 3763
Joined: Tue May 31, 2005 1:50 pm
Location: WV

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Mike N »

Midway Tommy D wrote: Thu Dec 15, 2022 10:44 pm Mike,
Looks really nice! Have you tried that stuff on any sun bleached/UV dulled plastic yet? I wonder if the oil would bring back the original sheen.
Tommy,

I used some Kramer’s on these old tobacco pipes. It rejuvenated the wooden bowls, but so-so results on the oxidation on the vulcanite/Ebonite pipe stems (recommendations for removing the oxidation range from soaking in OxyClean to Magic Eraser or fine grit sandpaper). I will try Kramer’s on some UV dulled plastic. Good idea.

Mike N

Mike N.
ORCA Founder, 1990
User avatar
Bill Sonnett
Super Board Poster
Posts: 620
Joined: Sun Nov 21, 2004 8:19 pm
Location: Jackson Michigan

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by Bill Sonnett »

I was given one 70 years ago as a boy and it is still going strong. The lesson is quickly learned however not to touch that metal shade as it gets really hot after being on for a while.--LOL
I love to get old reels, work on them until they run as smooth as silk and the take them fishing using pre-1960 plugs, mostly surface fishing for Largemouths after dark.
mark bumgarner
Advanced Board Poster
Posts: 127
Joined: Fri Jan 22, 2016 7:45 pm
Location: Jacksonville, Illinois

Re: Reviving some circa 1930s gooseneck desk lamps

Post by mark bumgarner »

Nice job Mike, I also use a couple in a display case. They need to be rewired but being a retired electrician it’s not high on my list. I use LED lamps, keeps the heat down and easy on the old wire!
Post Reply