Learn about the different parts of the 5 most common lamps, how they work, what they’re called, and even where to find them.
Have you ever wondered exactly how a lamp works? Whether it’s a question asked out of simple curiosity or the need to repair a lamp in your home, knowing the ins and outs of your lamp and any you might come across in the future is a handy skill to have! Something to take into consideration are all the different types of lamps, some of which have different parts from the others.
Don’t you worry, though! By the end of this article, you will know those lamp parts for the top 5 lamps and their functions!
A Table Lamp
Table lamps are probably the most common of the different styles. Not only do we use them in our homes, but you can find them in businesses or other establishments to embellish their store, office, or building with ambient lighting and beautifully designed fixtures.
Finial: the knob that screws a lampshade into place.
Frame: the metal or plastic frame that gives the lampshade its shape.
Harp: the oval cage that protects a lightbulb and holds up a lampshade.
Socket: where the lightbulb screws into the lamp.
Switch: what turns the lamp on and off.
Harp saddle: the round piece that holds the harp upright.
Neck: the length that connects the socket, switch, and harp to the body.
Pipe: the pipe is inside the body of the lamp and contains the wiring that connects the socket to the plug.
Body: the main part of a lamp, typically designed to catch someone’s eye.
Base: the base is what keeps the lamp from toppling over.
Base Weight: the base weight assists the base.
Cord/Plug: the cord protects wiring and the plug is what goes into the outlet.
A Floor Lamp
A floor lamp is a great alternative to a table lamp when you don’t have enough table or counter space to put one. There is a large selection to choose from to find the best tall, skinny, and adjustable floor lamp for you. Thanks to that, they won’t take up very much room wherever you put them.
Shade: depending on the type of lamp, the lampshade can be either metal, plastic, or fabric.
Socket: per usual, the light socket sits inside or underneath the lampshade.
Swivel: if your lamp moves and adjusts, a swivel will be one of the included lamp parts. It does precisely what the name implies: it swivels the lampshade and bulb to the preferred position.
Bridge Arm: this is another optional component that depends on the style of floor lamp you have. The bridge arm is what connects the lampshade and socket to the body of the lamp.
Husks: husks are decorative coverings found on sockets or other ‘unfavorable’ looking parts to a lamp.
Pipe: the pipe runs down the inside of the lamp body to connect the wiring to the cord at the bottom.
Tube/Body: the tube or body of the lamp is what takes up most of the space as far as parts of a lamp go. It protects the pipe and wiring, as well as giving it length.
Break: breaks on standing lamps are either to connect two separate tubes for the body or adjust the height of your lamp.
Seating Ring: found at the bottom of the lamp, seating rings are what seats the body tubing into the base of the lamp.
Base: as will almost any other lamp, the base serves its purpose by keeping the lamp upright and stable.
Switch: the location of the switch may vary depending on the style of floor lamp, but you can expect to see it near the bulb or lamp socket.
Cord: the cord will come out of the lamp base or from underneath to plug into an outlet.
A Desk Lamp
Desk lamps typically sit on a desk or table that needs direct lighting in that certain spot. These are a great choice for anyone who doesn’t want to keep their ceiling light on all the time.
Shade: for desk lamps, shades are usually made of metal or plastic rather than fabric to better direct light to specific points.
Shade Cap: the thinner piece on top of the shade with the purpose to connect the lamp holder (light socket) to the arms through wiring.
Lampholder: otherwise known as a socket, this is where you screw in light bulbs.
Bridle: a bridle is what connects the lampshade and lamp parts to the arms, keeping it in a sturdy position.
Grub Screw: grub screws are used in several places, such as the joints, base, and bridle.
Top Arms: the top arm or arms hold the lamp parts already listed and connect to the bottom arms.
Elbow Joints: these joints connect the top and bottom arms while allowing you to still adjust the height and of your lamp.
Bottom Arms: the bottom arm or arms, connected to the top arms by elbow joints, attach the lamp to the base.
Linkage Bar: a linkage bar sits between the two arms to secure them in place and ensure they don’t move or spread apart.
Springs & Spring Bar: the springs connect the bottom arms to the spring bar and allow you to adjust the bottom arms to whatever height you need.
Base: the base is at the very bottom of the lamp, keeping it stable and upright.
Switch: located either on the base or on the cord, the switch can be a flip switch, roll switch, or button switch to turn the light bulb on.
Cord: the cord is what connects everything to the outlet and provides electricity for the lamp to work.
A Wall Lamp
Wall lamps or wall sconces are lighting fixtures that sit on the wall of any room and have a very wide range of appearances. With a wall sconce, you can really take a look at the details of this fixture and shop for the styles you are interested in. The best part? You don’t have to worry about cords and outlets!
Shade: lampshades for wall sconces can be metal or fabric, but they can also be glass – such as that frosted glass you might find in older homes.
Socket: this is where you screw in your light bulb to conduct energy and make the light come on.
Holder: the holder is what secures the lighting parts of a lamp, such as the lampshade.
Tightening Screws: in order to keep the shade inside the holder, screws with flat tips are required to secure the lampshade into place.
Arms: the arm or arms on a wall lamp are what connect the lamp to the wall, as well as keeping the vulnerable wires from potential damage.
Backplate: backplates are what sit flush on your wall and cover the hole where your wiring for the lamp will go into the wall.
Switch: typically, when it comes to any wall lamp, the wiring is run through the wall and attached to a typical light switch on the wall rather than having a switch on the lamp itself.
An Oil Lamp
They may be old fashioned but the oil lamp is here to stay! Contrary to what you might think, these lamp parts really aren’t all that complicated. That’s part of the reason they still sell so well today. I just bought one not too long ago when a storm knocked out the electricity! No outlet, no bulb, and no pesky wiring.
Glass Shade: an oil lamp will always have a glass lampshade because the immense heat can cause other materials to melt.
Chimney: the chimney, like on a house, is where the smoke and heat rise up to escape the shade.
Shade Holder: holders are where the shade sits, often fastened with tightening screws to keep it in place.
Burner: the burner is where the flame will sit and burn on the wick of an oil lamp.
Wick Knob: turning this knob will adjust the wick and oil to either lower or brighten the fire inside the lamp.
Collar: the collar or neck of an oil lamp is what sits between the shade holder and the body.
Oil Cap: also known as a filler cap, this is what you remove to add more oil to the lamp.
Tank/Font Cap: a tank or font cap is the piece that sits on the crown of the oil tank (also called the body), and tends to be intricately designed and styles the lamp intricately, adding a bit of quality to the fixture.
Body/Font: known as the body, font, or tank, this is where the lamp will store the oil, soaking up the length of the wick until it reaches the top where you can light it.
Connector: this component sits between the body and base of an oil lamp to keep the two parts from colliding.
Base: either round and solid or intricate legs, the base is what allows you to set your oil lamp on the table without worrying about it falling over and starting a fire.
Where Can You Find Lamp Parts?
Life is unpredictable, so we’ll never know when we may need the parts to repair a broken lamp. Of course, you can always look at places like Walmart, local hardware stores, and Amazon, but those hunts can end up being a big shot in the dark. Instead, check out a store that is specifically for lamp parts.
MyLampParts.com does exactly that! This website allows you to browse parts or search for the exact piece you need. You might notice when you visit the page that there is an option to ask for help on your hunt for that one missing part! I strongly advise any customers to go ahead and click that button to help you refine your search so that you can find what it is that you’re looking for much faster!
Another store to check out would be Antique Lamp Supply, who sell specialty lamp parts and repair services for a type of lamp that may not be mainstream anymore. If you can’t find the parts you need, this store might be the best place to shop for you to get that lamp as good as new.
All that you need to do is create an account and checkout once you’ve found the items you need!