Pairpoint Lamps Rescued and Restored
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Sandy and I have become very interested in the preservation of Pairpoint Lamps. We have noticed for years the proliferation of unused and discarded bases because they are missing their original decorated glass shades. Let’s face it, what good is a lamp without a shade, especially when Pairpoint was known for their glass puffy and reverse-painted shades? In the hundred years that have passed since these lamps were popular, many, many shades were broken or lost, and they’re not replaceable. For many people, when the shade is broken, the base is rendered useless and unwanted. This line of thinking is unfortunate but is a reality.
Most people don’t realize that Pairpoint offered their lamps in scores of configurations and finishes that included numerous hardware variations. Additionally, while most famous for their beautiful decorated glass shades, Pairpoint offered many of their lamp styles with numerous plain and decorated parchment and silk shades in oval, conical, and Empire-style configurations. One of Pairpoint’s suppliers was the Murray M. Harvey Manufacturing Co., located at 6 E. 39th Street, New York. Armed with this knowledge, no Pairpoint lamp base needs to be abandoned for want of a glass shade. All that needs to be done to resurrect these lamps, and maintain their originality, is to slightly reconfigure the top hardware to accept an alternative shade that Pairpoint may have and could have offered at the time of sale. After all, this is what Pairpoint did when a customer wanted something other than a Puffy or Reverse-Painted shade. Pairpoint offered hundreds of configurations for their bases. Remember, Pairpoint Lamps are defined and cataloged by their base, not their shade. A Pairpoint lamp today, having a later shade replacement does not make the lamp any less-Pairpoint.
Arguably, no lamp manufacturer from any decade over the last hundred years made better lamps than Pairpoint; lamps purchased today cannot come close to the quality of materials, workmanship, or design…and they are expensive. An astute consumer, having an eye for quality and an appreciation of history, would serve himself well to purchase a derelict Pairpoint lamp base and have it restored and rewired prior to installing a current silk or parchment shade or even a well-styled reverse-painted glass shade which are still available in the secondary market. When all is said and done, the consumer will have a high quality historically significant utilitarian work of art to fill a necessary place in the home. And, the lamp will retain its value while a new lamp depreciates to second-hand status as soon as it leaves the retail store.
Most people don’t realize that Pairpoint offered their lamps in scores of configurations and finishes that included numerous hardware variations. Additionally, while most famous for their beautiful decorated glass shades, Pairpoint offered many of their lamp styles with numerous plain and decorated parchment and silk shades in oval, conical, and Empire-style configurations. One of Pairpoint’s suppliers was the Murray M. Harvey Manufacturing Co., located at 6 E. 39th Street, New York. Armed with this knowledge, no Pairpoint lamp base needs to be abandoned for want of a glass shade. All that needs to be done to resurrect these lamps, and maintain their originality, is to slightly reconfigure the top hardware to accept an alternative shade that Pairpoint may have and could have offered at the time of sale. After all, this is what Pairpoint did when a customer wanted something other than a Puffy or Reverse-Painted shade. Pairpoint offered hundreds of configurations for their bases. Remember, Pairpoint Lamps are defined and cataloged by their base, not their shade. A Pairpoint lamp today, having a later shade replacement does not make the lamp any less-Pairpoint.
Arguably, no lamp manufacturer from any decade over the last hundred years made better lamps than Pairpoint; lamps purchased today cannot come close to the quality of materials, workmanship, or design…and they are expensive. An astute consumer, having an eye for quality and an appreciation of history, would serve himself well to purchase a derelict Pairpoint lamp base and have it restored and rewired prior to installing a current silk or parchment shade or even a well-styled reverse-painted glass shade which are still available in the secondary market. When all is said and done, the consumer will have a high quality historically significant utilitarian work of art to fill a necessary place in the home. And, the lamp will retain its value while a new lamp depreciates to second-hand status as soon as it leaves the retail store.
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The Elusive Lamp Socket
The Heart of Pairpoint Electric Candles
Pairpoint was well known for including Electric Candles in their lamp product line-up in the 1920s and early 1930s. They offered many designs and configurations. Basically, Electric Candles were lamp bases that used a long electric socket covered with a paper sleeve that simulated a wax candle. An E-26 Edison bulb screwed into the socket that did not necessarily use a shade, but may have had a “Shield” or small sconce-type shade clipped to the sleeve or bulb. They may have used a flicker-type bulb or some other type of low-wattage novelty bulb.
The one thing that distinguishes most of the Electric Candles from every other lamp was the electrical socket set-up. To simulate the “look” of a real wax candle, the pull chain for the socket could not be visible. Therefore Pairpoint used a very unique socket that had an internal pull chain that dropped from the bottom of the socket through holes pre-drilled into the bobeche or body of the lamp base itself. Many Electric Candles found today are missing these sockets, which are no longer made. During the 1920s and 1930s, these very rare sockets were made by several electrical socket manufacturers like Bryant, Arrow, H&H, Federal, and others. Depending on the manufacturer, the sockets may be made from a plastic resin or ceramic components. To correctly restore an Electric Candle today is very difficult if the socket is missing. If you can find a used one on eBay, it may or may not be in good condition; and the price will be very high…perhaps $40 or more. Fortunately, Pairpoint Electric Candles are very desirable in the antique market, commanding a high price, and are worth restoring with the correct sockets. I should note that a Candelabra-base socket, a “junior” version, was also made and were most likely used for wall sconces.
We are showing below a few examples of Electric Candles and one image of the elusive socket that hides under the paper candle sleeve. The socket shown was made by Bryant. If anyone is in need of a socket, we may be able to help…just contact us using our Message Center tab. THE PRICE for a cleaned, serviced, and tested SOCKET is $32.00 plus postage.
You Can't Polish Lacquer
Anyone following eBay listings for Pairpoint lamp bases will regularly see a variety of old bases for sale. Most listed will be without the original shade due to loss or breakage. The fact that so many old bases still exist is a testament to the quality of Pairpoint’s workmanship; they were simply too good to throw away. Most of these lamp bases are dirty and in seemingly rough cosmetic shape. Barring serious physical damage, most of these bases are extremely restorable.
The restoration of Pairpoint lamps is really straight forward and requires only moderate mechanical and electrical skills to restore functionality. However, cosmetic restoration of the surface of the metal parts, requires a better understanding of how Pairpoint applied their finishes. First and most important, Pairpoint bases are cast of a strong base metal, not the metal that the finish could lead you to think. All surface finishes are “plated” or applied to the base metal. Pairpoint used numerous color variations, perhaps about ten or twelve. The original surfaces are durable but easy to damage from a heavy hand.
Once Pairpoint applied their selected finish, they were lacquered; an adhesive label was applied under the foot telling the owner to clean with a damp cloth only. This was because you can’t polish lacquer; most metal cleaners one hundred years ago were abrasive and would destroy the lacquer finish over time.
My suggestion to anyone performing a restoration is to soak each metal component in acetone (can be purchased in any hardware store). This will dissolve the lacquer in only a few minutes; some brushing and agitating will get into the tiny detail points very nicely. The acetone will not harm any Pairpoint finish, and it will dry rapidly. Then, wash the parts using dish soap and allow to dry. Your parts are now ready for a final assessment of condition. If your base is silver-plated, use a non-abrasive silver cleaner like Goddards. Other finishes can be enhanced using other water-based cleaners. Once you are satisfied with the status, and all parts are dry, apply a light coating of lacquer (gloss or semi-gloss); Rustoleum makes a great lacquer. You may find yourself using topical colorants or treatments (such as “Rub ‘n Buff”) that are oil-based. If so do not use lacquer as an overspray (incompatible chemistry); use a water-based clear coating instead.
I have restored scores of Pairpoint lamps and found each one to be unique; in all cases I have used the above methods with great success. I’m sure other lamp rescuers have their own tricks, but to do it right, you must get rid of the residual lacquer. You can’t polish lacquer.
Anyone following eBay listings for Pairpoint lamp bases will regularly see a variety of old bases for sale. Most listed will be without the original shade due to loss or breakage. The fact that so many old bases still exist is a testament to the quality of Pairpoint’s workmanship; they were simply too good to throw away. Most of these lamp bases are dirty and in seemingly rough cosmetic shape. Barring serious physical damage, most of these bases are extremely restorable.
The restoration of Pairpoint lamps is really straight forward and requires only moderate mechanical and electrical skills to restore functionality. However, cosmetic restoration of the surface of the metal parts, requires a better understanding of how Pairpoint applied their finishes. First and most important, Pairpoint bases are cast of a strong base metal, not the metal that the finish could lead you to think. All surface finishes are “plated” or applied to the base metal. Pairpoint used numerous color variations, perhaps about ten or twelve. The original surfaces are durable but easy to damage from a heavy hand.
Once Pairpoint applied their selected finish, they were lacquered; an adhesive label was applied under the foot telling the owner to clean with a damp cloth only. This was because you can’t polish lacquer; most metal cleaners one hundred years ago were abrasive and would destroy the lacquer finish over time.
My suggestion to anyone performing a restoration is to soak each metal component in acetone (can be purchased in any hardware store). This will dissolve the lacquer in only a few minutes; some brushing and agitating will get into the tiny detail points very nicely. The acetone will not harm any Pairpoint finish, and it will dry rapidly. Then, wash the parts using dish soap and allow to dry. Your parts are now ready for a final assessment of condition. If your base is silver-plated, use a non-abrasive silver cleaner like Goddards. Other finishes can be enhanced using other water-based cleaners. Once you are satisfied with the status, and all parts are dry, apply a light coating of lacquer (gloss or semi-gloss); Rustoleum makes a great lacquer. You may find yourself using topical colorants or treatments (such as “Rub ‘n Buff”) that are oil-based. If so do not use lacquer as an overspray (incompatible chemistry); use a water-based clear coating instead.
I have restored scores of Pairpoint lamps and found each one to be unique; in all cases I have used the above methods with great success. I’m sure other lamp rescuers have their own tricks, but to do it right, you must get rid of the residual lacquer. You can’t polish lacquer.