I just bought an expensive lamp online and while I am very pleased
with the quality of the aesthetic aspects of the lamp, I was shocked
to discover that it operates with just a thumb-switch on the cord.  I
really was expecting pull-chains for each bulb -- or a twisty-button
thing.

The lamp has 4 bulbs -- a 7 watt one in the base to make it glow, and
3 regular 60-watt bulbs under the shade.  Your level of lighting
choice is all or nothing -- on or off.

I want each bulb to operate independently -- or at the least, have a
switch where I can click 1-2-3-4 to light each bulb at a time,
starting with the one in the base.

My questions:

1. Are thumb-switches available where you can click 1-2-3-4-off to
turn on each bulb consequetively?  Is this something a non-electician
(like me!) can install with a screwdriver?

2. Can a lamp be rewired & converted in such a way that it uses pull
chains or twisty/buttons that it did not originally have?  If so, what
kind of place does that?  I live in Dallas, TX.

Here is a picture of the lamp if it helps:

http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&PROD_ID=64379

Thanks, Natalie.

Hello Natalie,

Thank you for your questions.

Let's address them one at a time:

1. Are thumb-switches available where you can click 1-2-3-4-off to
turn on each bulb consecutively?  Is this something a non-electrician
(like me!) can install with a screwdriver?


Unfortunately, no. Let me explain. The thumb switch on the cord going
to the wall is made up of two wires - a hot and a ground wire. These
two wires provide power to the entire lamp and it splits internally to
power each of the bulbs individually. The thumb switch actually makes
and breaks the connection on one of those two wires which turns on or
off the power to the entire lamp. There is no way to control each bulb
from this cord.


2. Can a lamp be rewired & converted in such a way that it uses pull
chains or twisty/buttons that it did not originally have?  If so, what
kind of place does that?  I live in Dallas, TX.

Yes.

The concern here is twofold:

You will either need to mount a multi-poled switch that will then
connect to each bulb individually, or multiple switches, or replace
the bulb sockets themselves with sockets that contain switch
mechanisms in them. None of this is very difficult or costly, however,
but in the first case you might have to drill into the lamp base to
mount a switch. As you mention this lamp is expensive and you might
not wish to modify the base that way. However, done properly, it
should look like it is a factory installation.

Should you choose the second method of replacing the bulb sockets, you
or a lamp repair facility will have to source sockets of the correct
size to retrofit in this lamp. The picture you have supplied just does
not give enough detail to know what these sockets should be, but the
odds are very good they will be readily and easily available.

Do note the Tiffany floorlamp on the right hand column of that page.
The lights have pull chains. This should be able to be done for your
lamp in a similar manner. It should not be very costly to have these
modifications performed.

Here are a few places local for you that should be able to do these
modifications for you:

Berl's Lamp & Chandelier Service
 972-991-2000
 1617 Bluebank Rd
 
Casa Lamps
 214-328-0399
 2209 Gus Thomasson
 
You might also call some of your local antique dealers for recommended
repair facilities that can modify your lamp such as  Lover's Lane
Antiques:
http://www.loverslaneantiques.com/inventory.htm

Phone: 214-351-5656
  TollFree: 888-843-0562
  Fax: 214-351-4235
  5001 W. Lovers Lane
  Dallas, Texas 75209


And you will find an extensive list of Dallas Antique dealers here:
http://www.town-mall.net/mall/antiques.html

Call a few and ask for recommendations for lamp repair that can
replace the bulb sockets with switched sockets for you.

You can see a good selection of the possibilities at this page:
http://www.paxtonhardware.com/LampFit/Lamp%20Part%20Pages/Sockets.html


Search Strategy:

lamp +repair +dallas texas
lamp OR lighting +modification +dallas texas
antique +lamp OR lighting +dallas texas
lighting +fixture +repair +dallas texas


I trust my research has provided you with possibilities for modifying
your lamp to your liking. If a link above should fail to work or
anything require further explanation or research, please do post a
Request for Clarification prior to rating the answer and closing the
question and I will be pleased to assist further.

Regards,

-=clouseau=-

Thank you for such a concise & easy-to-understand answer!  Have a
great weekend!  Natalie.

You are quite welcome, Natalie.

Thank you for the rating and tip.

Best,

-=clouseau=-