Having a nose on fleabay, There are an awful lot of lamps and stoves which look in pretty good condition until you see an mains lead in the background and the hideous words in the description "Upcycled" or "Steampunk" ! What possible satisfaction can you get from B*st*rdising a lovely piece of kit and sticking a light bulb on the end? GGGGrrrrrrrrrr! (rant over -retires to shed to light a lamp or two to chill out......)
Electrifying fuel appliances seemed to be a popular hobby in this area about 40 years ago, probably saved a few of these from the scrap heap and has given me a few parts.
Here's my opinion-- I have written the following with the thought that if Ebay and the sellers of this junk are made aware of their risk it may deter some from butchering good lamps. Re "Electric Lamps" and "converted to electric" "Steam Punk" "Repurposed" Apart from destroying a possibly rare piece of history in a way that makes it impossible to restore it to its original working condition. You may get the same selling price or better without the modifications Many that are seen listed are obviously a risk to life/property and should not be sold in their current state. Among faults observed many items contravene Electrical safety As they :- Do not have double insulation on leads. Do not have an "Earth" wire to prevent exposed metal from becoming alive." Lack any means to prevent cutting or abrasion/damage to wires where passed through holes as in :- Bushes or Grommets'. Have unprotected globes which if broken could if contact was made easily result in ELECTROCUTION or Fire The seller & E Bay may be liable to claims for injury/death & prosecution for selling goods that are faulty not fit for purpose and or do not comply with various Countries . Electrical Safety Regulations I am not only looking at this solely as a preservation of lamps issue. But as an Electrician a possibly deadly safety issue. A case I recall of reported deaths was a "home owner" put an unprotected globe on the end of a lead and when inspecting under his floor bumped and broke the glass and he made contact with the filament supports while on damp soil (one might say natural selection) Comments and suggestions please. Graham
Well stated, Graham. Electrocution and vandalism inflicted on lamps by ignorant people and the destruction of value is a bugbear of mine too!
Ebay cover themselves " It is the sellers responsibility etc" And the seller covers themselves by saying " no electrical report buyer to have item checked by a professional etc " Test certificates used to be a must have ,now even at auction houses.,they used to cut the plug off the end of the appliance , not any more they say due to some change in the law !, Buyer be aware ? Seems to be rather complicated when it should be straight forward . It will probably get worse when UK starts dumping EU laws . My point of view means nothing ,but my conscience is clear ,it's all we can do. Michael
Well I can feel a 'flogging' or just plain 'stoning' about to take place for the he heracy I am about to commit. Playing 'devil's advocate' here but I do have a 30 year old daughter who likes 'steam punk' as a style of decor. Old upcyled things turned in to trendy 'usable' items that a relatively young person like her finds attractive and usable in her house. She wouldn't entertain an old smelly kerosene lamp, heater, iron or blowtorch in her house but upcyled in to a lovely table or wall lamp and fitted with a retro edition bulb would be a completely different. So perhaps heracy but I suggest this is a way of promoting these old things to an audience that would otherwise not even know they existed..As far as electrical safety is concerned..this is not rocket science and can and has been done safely with grommets lamp shades and correct chassis earthing. Let's not forget that this isn't anything new and we have all seen coffee tables made from vintage engine blocks and rare parts made in to paperweights. Rather than heracy, this is a homage to those items, promotes interest and actually encourages others perhaps to collect and cherish, the sacrifice of a few for the good of all..you might say...that's my opinion..hang me now lol.
Don't think you're due a stoning - well, perhaps a packet of gravel (with apologies to monty python) Maybe it's because I enjoy restoring things back to their former glory that I see red when what appears to me to be a perfectly good lantern/blowtorch etc gets a bulb stuck on it and a wire shoved up its bottom ! Perhaps its the idea that we can see the restoring opportunities in an item whereas others see at as being "trendy". Does the "alternative" audience regard an electrified Tilley as an object of beauty and appreciate the work that went into its masnufacture and operation or just as something that looks old and stylish to put a light bulb on it? I could quite happily sit,watch and appreciate the working of a pressure lamp,can you do the same looking at a light bulb flicked on? Horses for courses I suppose...
