Question about checking the bottom of old lamps before buying
Grabbed a brass table lamp at a flea market in Toledo two years ago for $12 and felt pretty proud of myself. Come to find out the thing had a hairline crack in the base the whole time, and I only learned this when it tipped over and split clean in half. Now I flip stuff upside down and check the base and wiring before I hand over cash, and I found a cracked iron skillet the same way at a Goodwill in Dayton a few weeks back. So what else am I missing? What's the one check you do on a piece before buying it that most people skip?
Check the base and wiring" is smart but most folks skip the screws and joints. I always wiggle the stem and look at the socket inside the shade, because a loose socket or stripped screw means a cheap fix for you or a fire risk. Also sniff the cord for that old rubber smell, bad sign every time.