Lighting
And a Cleanup
One day in April, I was doing something on the back porch, which required me to unplug the lamp that hangs next to the door. I think in all the years we've been here that lamp has been unplugged three, maybe four times. Anyway, when I unplugged it this time, I came across a couple of surprises: it all needed to be cleaned up, and most importantly...rewiring was in order! Let's get into it!
A Little Background
Before diving into the latest updates on the back porch, I want to pause and shine a light—literally—on one small but quietly significant piece of this home’s story: the old wall lamp mounted beside the door.
Our back porch remodel started all the way back in 2008. We stripped the walls, replaced every window, repainted, and added new cabinetry—a complete transformation. Then in 2011, we finally painted the exterior and brought the whole space together. Much of that journey is chronicled in earlier blog posts. But if you take the time to scroll through the photos—from the earliest "before" shots to today—you’ll notice something quietly consistent in nearly every frame: that little wall lamp.
It’s not flashy or ornate. But it's always been there.
We didn’t install it—it came with the house. It belonged to the Moshers, the previous owners, and has been in that very spot for as long as anyone can remember. In fact, their granddaughter once told us she remembers the lamp glowing on summer nights when she was a little girl in the early 1970s. That detail hit me. It means this modest fixture has been lighting that doorway for over 50 years—and likely even longer. It was there the first time we saw the house, and aside from the brief moments it was removed for scraping or painting, it has never moved. Somehow, it became part of the soul of this space.
Technically speaking, the lamp is a great example of mid-century American design—likely from the 1950s. Its base features a ribbed Art Deco–influenced mounting arm, with a streamlined aluminum curve that's both functional and stylish. The original socket housing was equipped with classic bakelite push-button switches—one red, one black—for on and off control. These kinds of switches were popular in the postwar period, known for their durability and distinctive tactile "click." The combination of materials—metal, bakelite, and the simplicity of the mount—points toward a utilitarian design ethos common in the Atomic Age, when products were built to last but still carried a sense of style and optimism about the future.
When a man's home is born out of his heart and developed through his labor and perfected through his sense of beauty, it is the very cornerstone of life. - Gustav Stickley
The Find
Now that we've established that the lamp has always been there, imagine my surprise when I unplugged it back in April and found this:
That's right, ladies and gentlemen - an absolute fire waiting to happen. Luckily, over all, these years, nothing ever happened. But not wanting to tempt fate, I immediately decided it was time to rewire this lamp! It was time to give it a proper restoration. After all these years of loyal service (and a lot of dust and some paint splatter), it felt only right to take it down, clean it up, and make sure it was not just working, but safe for the next several decades.
Taking It Apart
Taking the lamp off the wall was surprisingly simple, though I handled it like a relic. The bracket unscrewed easily, and the socket assembly came apart with just a few turns—clearly a testament to the solid, no-frills construction of mid-century lighting.
The bakelite buttons were still intact (and working!), though the wiring inside told a different story: aged cloth insulation, brittle and darkened with time. It was clearly time for an upgrade.
Cleaning & Polishing
The housing itself is chrome-plated metal, and though it was dull and lightly speckled with old paint,
...it responded beautifully to a gentle polish. I used a soft cloth, a bit of Colonel Brassy metal cleaner, and plenty of patience. Years of oxidation came right off, revealing that original bright finish underneath. The ribbed aluminum wall mount cleaned up nicely too—I used a toothbrush and a little diluted dish soap to work into the grooves before buffing it dry.
The bakelite push-buttons (red for on, black for off) were wiped clean with just a damp cloth. I didn’t want to risk damaging the plastic by using anything abrasive.
Once polished, the whole thing gleamed like something straight out of a 1950s hardware catalog.
Rewiring the Lamp
For the rewiring, I picked up a basic lamp rewiring kit from Lowe’s. It came with everything I needed: new wires, a socket, and a polarized plug. I decided to keep the original socket housing (it has such a great vintage shape and stamping), but replaced the inner socket insert with the new one from the kit. It fit perfectly, and now the electrical components are up to modern safety standards, without sacrificing the lamp’s vintage charm.
Threading the new cord through the arm was the trickiest part—it's a tight fit—but with a little patience and a few gentle nudges, it all came together.
A Fresh Start with History Intact
The final touch was rehanging the lamp to the wall! When I flipped the switch and that familiar little red button clicked under my thumb, the lamp flickered to life—bright, steady, and better than ever.
Its Natural Habitat
And here it is, cleaned, rewired and back in its natural habitat, where it rests as a quiet witness. It has seen decades of life unfold on this porch: kids rushing out the door, family gatherings, rainy days, and late-night returns home. It’s cast light on changing seasons, new coats of paint, and the little joys of everyday life.
Hey, thanks for stopping by - see ya' next time!
