Frequently Asked Questions
I am based in The Hemswell Antique Centres near Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, UK and provide services in the local service including Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire, Rutland and also across the UK.
Lamps or Light Fittings can be dropped off 7 days a week at Hemswell, They can be sent to my by Courier or signed for Royal Mail, I also offer a collection and delivery service in the local service area.
For rewires and repairs I can generally turn round a lamp or light fitting in 1 to 2 days depending on current work load and if I have the parts in stock. If any specialist parts have to be ordered then then I quote up to 10 days.
For larger Items with multiple light fittings / lampholders then this would be typically a week to 10 days.
For restoration, rebuild and lamp creation / upcycling items into lamps I may have to make some structural parts if they are no longer available, so this can take longer.
In most cases yes lamps can be rewired, repaired or rebuilt.
In some cases with very old lamps, light fittings and chandeliers the cable runs are very narrow and would not allow modern wires to pass through that are needed to meet lighting standards and current electrical safety requirements.
Over the years I have come across a number of challenges for example light fittings and lamps in pieces I have rebuilt and restored, finding alternative cable runs and finding ways to make missing structural parts. So before writing anything off, please contact me as there may be an innovative solution to an old problem.
Rewiring or repairing an old lamp or light fitting has many benefits
- It is a sustainable and responsible thing to do
- It preserves history of a period style, design, name or a craftsman made item
- It may have some sentimental value to you and your family and you want to use it again
- It supports the UK economy, local skills and crafts
- It stops it going to landfill
- It means you don't buy a cheap foreign import that isn't built to last, but instead give something old a new life and have many more years of pleasure from it
- You can update it to accept modern LED / very low wattage light bulbs that is much cheaper to run and is a sustainable and responsible thing to do
For a further insight into the significant sustainability benefits of reusing, restoring and repairing old or second items, please see the ATG’s Carbon Impact Report from 2022 that highlights the important key role that the auction industry has in reducing the world’s carbon emissions by facilitating the market for the reuse of old and second-hand goods.
Yes, I buy Antique and Vintage Lamps, please see my Sell Your Lamp Page
I Buy Antique, Vintage and Old:
- Floor Lamps
- Standard Lamps
- Table Lamps
- Reading Lamps
- Oil Lamps
- Gas Lamps
- Vase Lamps
- Lamp Conversions from old items
- Light Fittings
- Lanterns
- Old Parts from Lamps, Light Fittings and Lanterns
As a general guide most Electric Lamps and Light Fittings produced can be dated from the 1930's onwards so would be classed as Vintage and not Antique. This is down to the fact that in the UK electricity did not enter domestic homes on mass until the 1930's.
Electricity in homes started to be be introduced slowly after the First World War but did not gain pace until the 1930's. Earlier examples of electricity been used was Joseph Swan who installed his incandescent light bubs at Cragside House in Northumberland in 1878 as a showcase for the future of lighting after he has successfully managed to stably manufacture light bulbs in the UK.
Incandescent Light bulbs following the installation at Cragside House were used as an early test in street lighting, replacing gas lighting. Therefore, other than a few examples such as Queen Victoria having electric lighting installed in Osbourne House on the Isle of Wight, domestic electric lighting in homes was quite rare until 1918 onwards.
Most Antique (over 100 years old) electric lighting I come across are generally old oil lamps or gas lamps that have been converted to electricity. A true antique original electric lamp or light fitting (not converted from gas or oil) pre 1920's is very rare.
Lamps and light fittings I come across dated pre 1920 I am very cautious with, they do exist but are very rare finds.
For further reading and information on the history of lighting please see the following articles
The Illuminating History of Lighting- The National Trust
Electrifying: The story of lighting our homes - Science Museum
As a minimum it should be checked by a qualified and competent person to ensure it is safe to use, meets current lighting standards and electrical safety regulations.
I come across quite a lot of lamps lights and light fittings that were manufactured in periods where the safety regulations were much looser than they are today and although they may have been rewired at some point, I find that most if they have been rewired by an unqualified person or a DIYer they tend to just copy the old standard, so in todays terms they would be considered unsafe to use.
A lamp or light fitting may not necessarily need rewiring unless damaged or is the wrong rating or standard for its designed use, it may simply be a new plug that meets current standards, a correctly rated fuse, earth tags or cable clamps are needed to name a few common findings.
If in any doubt please contact me I am always available for any safety related question.
It is very common for an Auction House to cut cables from electrical goods including lamps and light fittings so it encourages the buyer to get it looked at by a qualified and competent person to ensure it is safe to use.
This is a situation I come across regularly and I often rewire and / or repair lamps and lighting for customers who buy at Auctions, Antique Centres, Antique Shops, Antique Fairs and second hand outlets.
Please contact me for further information
If a light is old, damaged or is showing signs of a fault or an intermittent fault, stop using it and get it checked by a qualified and competent person
Most old lamps and light fittings can be made safe and given a new life with a simple rewire and / or replacing outdated or damage parts.
The main risks and dangers of old lighting, lamps and light fittings are fire and electric shock.
Common faults and hazards that occur with age, misuse or old lighting now not meeting current safety standards, are:
- Using a light bulb that is higher than the rated wattage of the lamp or light fitting - Fire Risk
- Metal fittings not earthed, missing earth tagging / straps or rewired wrongly with two core cable with no earth
- Damaged / broken / cracked plugs
- Old plugs not meeting the BS1363 standard
- Wrong fuse rating posing a high fire risk. Most lighting I come across has the wrong fuse fitted.
- Plugs wired incorrectly
- Strain relief clamping missing or broken
- Wires are the wrong length
- Lose connections causing high fire risk from arcing
- In line switches wired incorrectly, broken earths, lose connections, missing or broken clamps
- Damaged cable, cut split has kinks, badly twisted
- Melted or frayed cable
- Joined or taped cable
- Incorrectly rated cable for the designed use of the lighting - fire risk
- Lampholders with no safety protection, safety mechanisms or not meeting current standards
- Broken or damaged Lampholders
If in any doubt stop using it and get old lighting checked by a qualified and competent person to ensure it is safe to use, meets current lighting standards and electrical safety regulations.
Most old lamps and light fittings can be made safe and given a new life with a simple rewire and / or replacing outdated or damage parts. Please contact me should you need any help or advice. I am always available for any safety related question.
The name PAT Testing was changed to EET with the 5th edition update to the IET Code of Practice for the In-service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment.
PAT Testing or Portable Appliance Testing as a general rule of thumb covered any electrical appliance that can be moved e.g. has a plug and can be unplugged and moved.
EET or Electrical Equipment Testing (formally PAT Testing) now covers a much broader range of electrical equipment that previously would have slipped through the net. As some simple examples, an Electric Hand Drier in a toilet that would be wired into a buildings fixed installation via a fused spur or a Pillar Drill wired into a fused spur in a workshop.
PAT testing has been embedded in safety thinking and practice for many years so with the recent name change to EET it will be a while for this change in term to be used in general speech, but the change in practice, scope and testing is now mandatory.
EET Testing (formally PAT Testing) covers an in depth visual inspection of the equipment as well as an electrical test for the rated class of the equipment.
Visual Inspection
A visual inspection can find a lot of faults and prevent others from occurring
- Serial plate Inspection (if fitted) to determine the designed class and important information to ensure correct ratings are observed in inspection and testing
- Detailed examination of the Plug inside and out
- Correct fuse rating
- Detailed Inspection of the wiring to ensure it is free of damage, ware, kinks cuts and the cable is the correct rating for the cable and designed and intended use of the equipment
- In line switches are correctly wired, free of damage and operational
- Inspection of the casing and fittings to ensure it is free of damage and all safety guards and mechanisms are in place and still work and there is no access to live parts
- The equipment is as the manufacture intended it for safety reasons and operation
Electrical Testing
Electrical Tests are dependant on the Class of equipment been tested and include a combination of the following dependant on the Class
Non Powered Tests
- Earth Continuity Test (RPE)
- Insulation Resistance (RISO)
Powered Tests
- Leakage (LLeak) PE Leakage
- Run / Load / Functional Test
Additional Tests for Extension Leads and 3 Core Leads
- Polarity / Wiring
Dielectric Strength Tests (Flash Test or hipot test)
This Test does not form part of any recommendation within the Code of Practice for In-service Inspection & Testing and is used more in product safety testing and is routinely used in industries such as The Tool Hire Industry.
Test Results and Documentation
All tests done are recoded, with notes and photographs and test labels with references to the test records that are applied to the equipment.