That curb-side desk lamp I almost walked past turned out to be a solid find

I spotted this old metal desk lamp sitting next to a trash pile on Elm Street in Portland 3 months ago. It looked pretty beat up with a bent shade and a frayed cord, so I almost kept walking. But I grabbed it, replaced the cord for like 8 bucks, and now it's the best task light in my workshop. Anybody else find something that looked rough but cleaned up really well?

2 comments

2 Comments

phoenixb341mo ago

Nah, I feel like a frayed cord on an old lamp is usually a red flag that it's gonna die in a week.

grace_campbell1mo ago

My dad had a lamp from the 70s with a frayed cord that literally sparked once and then worked fine for another 10 years. That thing finally died when the bulb socket corroded, not the cord. Honestly, those old cloth covered cords often just look scary but the copper inside is usually solid, especially if it's not been chewed on by a pet. I feel like people see a little fray and immediately assume the worst when really it's the switch mechanism or the socket that gives out first on those vintage lamps.