Restoring an old lamp

[Nikkormat]

I've bought an old lamp, a Kaiser Idell 6556. It's a bit battered, appears to have been repainted (definitely the base, probably the whole thing) and has been rewired at some time in the distant past. It seems these are still made today, but this one was made in the 1930s (more pronounced dome on the base).



I've bought a re-wiring kit designed for it, so will fit that before I use it. I want to paint it, as the paint job it currently sports has been done badly. Black probably, or maybe dark green. Any advice would be much appreciated: preparation, type of paint, finishing etc.

 

[spanglechick]

I can’t help, but it’s a lovely lamp. Good luck.

 

[Nikkormat]

Thanks!

 

[danski]

I would imagine spraying would give the best finish.
I’m sure there are others here with more experience of the kind of prep you’d need to make the best of it.
And yeah, ‘tis nice

 

[Athos]

I've bought an old lamp, a Kaiser Idell 6556. It's a bit battered, appears to have been repainted (definitely the base, probably the whole thing) and has been rewired at some time in the distant past. It seems these are still made today, but this one was made in the 1930s (more pronounced dome on the base).

View attachment 336695

I've bought a re-wiring kit designed for it, so will fit that before I use it. I want to paint it, as the paint job it currently sports has been done badly. Black probably, or maybe dark green. Any advice would be much appreciated: preparation, type of paint, finishing etc.

What's it made of?

 

[Nikkormat]

What's it made of?

Steel. I think paint stripper followed by spray primer and a couple of thin coats of spray paint.

 

[Athos]

Steel. I think paint stripper followed by spray primer and a couple of thin coats of spray paint.

Sounds about right. You might need to sand before primer.

 

[jontz01]

Dark green rather than black.

 

[friedaweed]

Wire wool and turps or a multi tool/drill with a wire brush head on

 

[Pickman's model]

Give it a polish and if you're lucky a genie will pop out of the bulb

 

[Nikkormat]

Dark green rather than black.

I am inclined that way too, but if it turns out to have been black originally I might go with that.

Wire wool and turps or a multi tool/drill with a wire brush head on

Good thinking. I think that will make it easier.

 

[friedaweed]

I am inclined that way too, but if it turns out to have been black originally I might go with that.



Good thinking. I think that will make it easier.

You may find using the wire brush/wool method you can get most of it off and back to polished metal.

When I've done anglepoise lamps I've stopped there and just applied a light spray varnish leaving some of the old paint visable.

All the retro restoration dudes call that patina and double the price of the item.

Sometimes less is more and they don't need painting.

 

[dessiato]

Steel. I think paint stripper followed by spray primer and a couple of thin coats of spray paint.

This. But if I were you I'd only paint the base and that in the same colour as the rest.

It's old, it has patina which will take many years to replicate.

 

[dessiato]

You may find using the wire brush/wool method you can get most of it off and back to polished metal.

When I've done anglepoise lamps I've stopped there and just applied a light spray varnish leaving some of the old paint visable.

All the retro restoration dudes call that patina and double the price of the item.

Sometimes less is more and they don't need painting.

Instead of varnish I'd use a semi matt wax, maybe even a black wax, to give some protection and a soft look.

 

[Nikkormat]

This. But if I were you I'd only paint the base and that in the same colour as the rest.

It's old, it has patina which will take many years to replicate.

This is my current plan. Still not sure if the arm and shade were originally this colour, or of they have been painted at some stage too; I can only find reference to this model in black or white. I like the darker green though, and yes, preserving the patina would be good.

 

[friedaweed]

Instead of varnish I'd use a semi matt wax, maybe even a black wax, to give some protection and a soft look.

Yep. I use a lot of waxes and pastes as well. Rusoleum do some nice products for this sort of thing.

 

[Nikkormat]

Just remembered this thread. I stripped it, with the plan to then leave it bare metal, but the previous (not original) paint job proved very hard to remove from the shade. I rubbed it down as best I could, sprayed it with a coat or two of primer then three coats of dark green. The new electrics were easy to fit. I am very pleased with it.