What Type of Bulbs Are Used in Antique Floor Lamps?

Whether you own an antique floor lamp for reading or for accent lighting, lamps with their original fittings require bulbs you will not find in the lighting aisle of your super center. Thankfully, there are specialty stores and on-line sources that carry these hard-to-find items along with other fittings that meet the specifications for antique floor lamps. Appropriate bulb choices give your antique lamp the period look of gas- or early electric-style lighting. Does this Spark an idea?

Carbon Filament

Thomas Alva Edison was the first person to apply the word "filament" to a fine wire that glows when electric current runs through it. Purchase Victorian-style carbon filament bulbs in varying heights and diameters that are appropriate for your antique floor lamp. These bulbs may be hand-crafted and will emit a soft glow that allows them to work with or without a shade in place. These bulbs can be used for exposed-socket fixtures and are available in clear or smoke-colored glass. Some styles are shaped like a pagoda to mimic authentic Edison-style bulbs and may be frosted or clear glass.

1890s

Edison's early light bulbs burned for about 40 hours.

While Thomas Edison did not invent the light bulb, he improved on a 50-year-old model. In the early 1890s, he designed carbon filament light bulbs, improving on the materials used and the quality of the vacuum within the glass housing. These bulbs are available in different sizes and aid in the restoration of the original look of early electric lighting. Most are 40 Watts in strength.

Squirrel Cage Tungsten

Purchase a reproduction of a "Squirrel Cage" tungsten filament bulb designed by Thomas Edison. These bulbs feature multiple gold-toned filaments in a glass housing that measures 5 inches tall and 2 1/2 inches in diameter. These bulbs are available in 30 or 60 watts.

Mogul Base

Mogul base bulbs usually serve as uplighting.

Many antique floor lamps were designed with a mogul base: a large diameter based bulb that fits into a large socket in the center of the lamp. These bulbs are available in three-way strength, which allows you to switch from 100, 200 or 300 wattage. If you want the versatility of using contemporary light bulbs, purchase an adaptor that converts the large mogul socket to the correct diameter.

Candelabra

Candelabra bulbs are available with or without a flame tip.

Antique floor lamps that feature a center mogul fixture often were designed with three to four surrounding candelabra arms under the lamp's shade. Purchase candelabra bulbs with a large base that are 4 inches tall and 1 inches in diameter. These bulbs come in different shapes and sizes to mimic the look of a real flame or in a wavy pattern that runs vertically on the bulb itself.