Talk About Your Desk Lamps

[poetman]

I don't like banker's lamps at all. I've used them, and for my needs, they hardly illuminate the desk. I tend to sprawl everything over the whole desk, so I like lamps that illuminate a lot of space. Many writers I see use the same style. I don't know the name of these lamps, and I'm not sure how vintage they are, but some vintage writers use them.

Sartre:
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x314/Poetmandrums/?action=view&current=42-17428010.jpg

Noam Chomsky:
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x314/Poetmandrums/?action=view&current=42-16046868.jpg

Be sure to post some pictures when you're done. I'd love to see the finished product!

 

[John in Covina]

I don't like banker's lamps at all. I've used them, and for my needs, they hardly illuminate the desk. I tend to sprawl everything over the whole desk, so I like lamps that illuminate a lot of space. Many writers I see use the same style. I don't know the name of these lamps, and I'm not sure how vintage they are, but some vintage writers use them.
Sartre:
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x314/Poetmandrums/?action=view&current=42-17428010.jpg
Noam Chomsky:
http://s180.photobucket.com/albums/x314/Poetmandrums/?action=view&current=42-16046868.jpg
Be sure to post some pictures when you're done. I'd love to see the finished product!

**************
Yes these lamps often clamp to a desk like that used by an artist. I have managed to break a number of them, but currently use one (intact) as the light for my bed so I can read or turned up at the ceiling illuminate the room.

 

[Ben Langworthy]

Anglepoise

Sorry, if I'm replying to a long dead thread?!

The 'artists lamps' you mentioned are based on the 'Anglepoise' lamp design. The Anglepoise lamp was designed by an inventor called George Cawardine and the first version was released in 1934 by Herbert Terry and sons, of Redditch, England (although Cawardine had briefly produced the lamp from his own factory between 1931-34).
If you'r in the USA you'l more likely know it as a Luxo lamp, thats because Anglepoise signed up to give them sole manufacturing rights for everywhere outside the British commonwealth (not a great plan as while Anglepoise nearly went bust a few years ago Luxo is huge!).

To me (perhaps because I'm English!) the Anglepoise is the ultimate vintage desk lamp, both period, useable and beautiful.