Magneto Lamp Project

[Dieselman 63]

I am going to make a lamp for my grinder. I have an old BTH mag which I nicked the bearing races from for my lathe, and now it is looking forlorn and dead - it’s too nice to bin, and probably worthless as spares. It will make a good lamp base in my mind, but with some heavy tweaking and re-jigging to fit new components.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I was going to use the base to make a scissor wall lamp but I decided a machine lamp would be more useful and easier for me.

I bought this lamp off a very kind forum member, originally intending it for the grinder but since it’s actually a lovolite it’s perfect for the lathe, so I’ll still need a lamp on the grinder. I’ll use the same jointed arm type for the grinder lamp.

I have bought some vintage Bakelite lamp fittings which will be perfect for the project and give it an appropriately aged look. The goal is to make it look like a vintage machine lamp!

 

[Dieselman 63]

Today I began by painting the BTH logo on the side of the mag - this will end up being the top. After a few coats of gloss I’ll scrape back the paint and it should look enamelled.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I bought a toggle switch today and some braiding to shield the wires. I thought it might look a bit nicer than plain wire, plus gives it a bit of protection. On Friday I can have a look at putting some first bits together to form the base unit.

 

[daedalusminos]

I bought a toggle switch today and some braiding to shield the wires.

You can still buy the twisted cotton braid flex.

 

[Dieselman 63]

You can still buy the twisted cotton braid flex.

Not at any shop I could find. NZ is a bit niche sometimes! This will do, I’m happy with it.

 

[Dieselman 63]

The screws holding the brass plate at the end were rusted and one was missing. Thankfully I have some 2ba bolts and these will work nicely, with a little fettling of the Bakelite of course!

There was a bearing housing in this brass square which I knocked out with a punch, then cut off and ground flush. With the fitting in place, the lamp base is beginning to look rather good.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Here is the body etch primed and with the BTH thing on it too. The detail has been painted with Humbrol gloss enamel and I rubbed a little machine oil over afterwards to ‘age’ the paint consistent with being cleaned and buffed. Delicate work but brings out the shine of the paint. I need to make a steel cover over where the switch will poke through, which will be tonight’s little job. With any luck I can get a first coat of grey paint onto it, too.

 

[Dieselman 63]

A bit of scrap steel sheet has been fashioned into a cover for the switch to hide the spacer and the bolt holes either side. The main block is now in undercoat so I’ll get this all polished up to a nice bright finish, then see about putting the bits back together

 

[Olderisbetter]

Using old parts to make a new retro lamp gives you such a good one off look, Nice work.

 

[Dieselman 63]

Using old parts to make a new retro lamp gives you such a good one off look, Nice work.

Thanks I should really get back to this. The fit of the circular Bakelite bit isn’t perfect and I want to make an adapter out of sheet metal, with provision on the Bakelite for some Roundhead bolts. It will get a little complicated there...

 

[Olderisbetter]

Thanks I should really get back to this. The fit of the circular Bakelite bit isn’t perfect and I want to make an adapter out of sheet metal, with provision on the Bakelite for some Roundhead bolts. It will get a little complicated there...

I used to skip those machine lamps when i was 16, I worked at a place where we emptied factories and it either worked instantly or it was considered scrap metal, So many amazing items were just a quick money maker.

 

[Dieselman 63]

I used to skip those machine lamps when i was 16, I worked at a place where we emptied factories and it either worked instantly or it was considered scrap metal, So many amazing items were just a quick money maker.

That is sad.

Check out this absolute beast of a 3ph breaker I found the other day still working in a building. That Art Deco influence worked brilliantly on electrics.

I have another restoration project for my graduate lathe in here, for the most part so far I’ve been focused on getting that lamp back in action, it’s a proper lovolite, very complex for the size!

 

[eddie49]

"Restored" machinist lamps and Anglepoise lamps go for silly money in the UK nowadays, upwards of £200. I blame Drew Pritchard with his "Salvage Hunters" TV show.

 

[eddie49]

Correction: make that price £900 not two hundred:

https://www.skinflintdesign.com/lights/type/wall-lights/edl-machinists-work-light

 

[Dieselman 63]

Correction: make that price £900 not two hundred:

https://www.skinflintdesign.com/lights/type/wall-lights/edl-machinists-work-light

Ridiculous price, but they’re very well made. Those look new old stock

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Correction: make that price £900 not two hundred:

https://www.skinflintdesign.com/lights/type/wall-lights/edl-machinists-work-light

[Anything can have a ridiculous asking price, doesn't mean it'll sell though. ]

 

[Dieselman 63]

Things were built better in the past. This is my lovolite project which is nearing completion - wonderfully complex, challenging to rebuild but a symphony of excellence. The original colours of black and hammered silver were reapplied.