I though I’d never see the day, but the ugly lamp is dead! The ugly lamp is dead!

This black, art deco thing which leaned to one side was a left over from my hubby’s bachelor days (just kidding babe). We kept it since he was somewhat attached to it (he had it for 17 years) and it was the only source of light in our guest room.

But the bulb burned out and there was no way to replace it. There probably was a way, but I didn’t give him enough time to even think about it.

Within minutes I had taken it downstairs and disassembled it. With ideas for its rebirth.

I removed most of the parts and was left with one single pole for the lamp base. It was a little tricky to put back together, since I had completely disassembled it and it was a few weeks before I ended up putting the new version back together. (Note to self: next time take a picture of how things are put together.)

Since the lamp didn’t originally have a traditional socket and bulb, I had to buy a 3 way socket at Home Depot. When I get it home I realized that the hole in the socket was way smaller than the screw that was sticking out from the top of the lamp.All of the sudden my hopes and dreams of a rebirth for this lamp were squashed.

But I started playing with the left over lamp parts and found that the same threaded connector that fit inside the larger connector on the lamp by some miracle also fit into the socket.

I swear I heard angels sing at that moment!

And there she is, with the socket on

Following the directions on the socket box stumped me for a minute when I got to tying the so-called ‘underwriters knot’ (where does that come from anyway?). So I thought I’d share how it’s done (or at least how I think it’s one).

Tying an Underwriters Knot For Dummies

Step One

Pull apart your wire and pull both pieces down creating bunny ears. BTW, don’t make them quite as long as mine, maybe half as much. ( I later had to move the knot way up).

Step Two

Wrap one wire to the back and the other wire to the front .

Step Three

Stick the front wire through the loop next to it and then stick the back wire through the other loop.

Step Four

Pull to tighten.

I then stripped the wire how it said in the instructions, trying carefully not to break it.

It said something about a ribbed or silver wire. Again a little panic set in; what ribbed wire, what silver wire?. Did this strange lamp have abnormal wiring? Would I have to go back to Home Depot?

I breathed a sigh of relief when I realized that one wire coating was ribbed and the other was smooth.

I was set to proceed when I also realized the loose ends of my underwriters knot were wayyy to long. So I had to redo the knot and move it up.

I connected (how the instructions said) the ribbed wire to the silver screw and the smooth wire to the brass screw.

Still had to move my knot up once again!!!

I plugged in my lamp and turned the knob and drumroll please….

Nothing happened. OH MY GOD will the torment never end??!! I went back through the instructions going again through everything in my mind wondering what I had done wrong. It seemed like everything was ok.

I talked myself from the edge and went back to the lamp. I tried turning the knob again and….

It worked!!!! (I had turned it off the first time.)

Here it is shinning in all it’s glory.

 Ok it’s still ugly, but it works. I’ve got big plans for this puppy.