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The Lamplighter

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The Lamplighter

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Repair and sympathetic restoration of vintage and modern lamps. Based in Deal, Kent but happy to collect and deliver in surrounding areas for free.

All work PAT tested (beyond HSE guidance) and certificated. Let me breathe new light into your lamps!

22/10/2026

Keeping busy with some chandeliers this week.

19/10/2026

Jealous!

19/10/2026

A valued customer asked me to try to save a lamp holder operated by pull-cord switch while rewiring her beautiful Belgian table lamp for safe use in the UK.
On dismantling the lamp holder I found this elegant mechanism (shown here with the central pin partly removed).
The user pulls a cord which pulls the silver lever (highlighted in blue) towards the top of the image. This twists the rotor (indicated by orange rectangle) exactly 1/4 turn. The rotor has a sprung contact on each side (which you can see above and below in the photo) which connect to the live supply and centre pin of the bulb holder. The rotor has a brass contact which passes from one side to the other and pulling the lever alternately presents the brass contact or insulation with each pull on the cord thanks to a ratchet pawl and shaped rotor end.
I was expecting to find worn contacts and low spring pressure but actually found old dried grease all over all the contact faces. A clean and application of trusty Servisol switch cleaner was all that was needed.
Why not let me breathe new life into your lamp?

17/10/2026

❓People often ask me how to wire a plug properly. Happily, most modern appliances are sold with a moulded one attached so this skill is less needed nowadays. However, with vintage electrical items this is very important.
🔌The attached image shows a plug before and after retermination.
🧨The before has the wrong fuse (3A is almost always appropriate for lighting flex), the cord grip has been fixed onto the wires (should be on the cable sheath) and the brown wire was misrouted so it was squashed. The routing of the wires where they enter the terminals was less than ideal (although you could say this about the live in the after image!).
It’s sensible to make the earth wire longer than the others (as shown) so that if the cable is yanked out of the plug, the earth connection will be disconnected last (thanks, Andy!).
⚡️If you’re in any doubt, consult a qualified electrician. I’m happy to give you free advice, of course.
If you’d like me to thoroughly test and certify your vintage or modern lamp, let me know.
Let me breathe new light into your lamp.

26/09/2026

Thanks, VistaPrint for my lovely cards. Very happy. X

23/09/2026

FOR SALE: just £20 the pair.
These charming barley-twist candlestick style table lamps would look lovely in any setting. They have BC switched lamp holders and are earthed.
All my lamps come with a FREE test certificate confirming successful functional, mechanical integrity and PAT testing (above HSE guidance).
Ready for collection from Upper Deal or FREE delivery in the Deal area, cash or card most welcome.

20/09/2026

Pleased to report that I now have ten five star reviews from kind Lamplighter Customers in Google. This makes a massive difference to little businesses like mine and I’m humbly most grateful.

The Lamplighter

15/09/2026

Another glowing review!

15/09/2026

A review kindly left for me on Google (other search engines are available) by a delighted Customer.

Address

350 Middle Deal Road
Deal
CT149SN

Telephone

+447970468354

Website

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