Help identify/source replacement bulbs for this old Christmas thing?

November 28, 2021 12:49 PM

My wife's (beloved, now passed) dad got this ridiculous Christmas decoration from her (beloved, now passed) grandma. It started as a joke but became a treasured family heirloom. It recently died and I am trying to source replacement bulbs, but they are funky "clip in" types (view 1, view 2). Any ideas what they are called or where to find them? Based on the sentimental value, my budget is $12 billion.
posted by AgentRocket to Shopping (11 answers total)

The images weren't working for me.
posted by AlexiaSky at 1:00 PM on November 28, 2021

Oof. You may be better off going to a charity shop or garage sale, and looking for a replacement for the whole string of lights rather than individual bulbs. (I can see the images.)
posted by Too-Ticky at 1:06 PM on November 28, 2021

Images work for me.

I have never seen those exact bases before, but it appears at first glance (it's hard to tell without something for scale) that the bulbs themselves may be the same as are used in GE-style mini christmas lights. They have a single "prong" on the base, which the two fine wires from the bulb protrude through, and then are bent almost 180-degrees back up the sides of the "prong".

If I'm correct, you might be able to get a bulb from a GE-style light string, carefully unbend the wires and remove the bulb, and put it into the clip-in plastic base from your string. Potentially trimming the wires to the correct length.
posted by Kadin2048 at 1:08 PM on November 28, 2021 [3 favorites]

I agree that it's probably easier to replace the lights altogether instead of trying to source the bulbs. It'd probably be safer too, as LED bulbs operate a lower temps than even the old 2.5W incandescents.
posted by kschang at 1:18 PM on November 28, 2021

This seller on Etsy might be able to help you. The bulbs on the right look similar.
posted by essexjan at 1:59 PM on November 28, 2021

I've re-uploaded the images to Imgur.

Image 1

Image 2
posted by essexjan at 2:00 PM on November 28, 2021

I also agree that replacing the lights may be your best option. Replacing them with LEDs would mean you shouldn't need to worry about having to do this again. If you can't do it yourself, get someone to solder new globes/holders onto the existing wires. You need to think about the voltage as well as finding something that will fit.
posted by dg at 2:39 PM on November 28, 2021 [1 favorite]

I successfully repaired an old tree ornament with the method described by Kadin2048 above: remove the old bulb from the base, take a new bulb from an old-school incandescent tree light string* and remove that bulb from its base, put new bulb into old base.

(In theory we should match the bulb wattage here, but I'm guessing you have no specs on the old bulbs so you're just going to have to wing it and try options.)
posted by introp at 8:20 AM on November 29, 2021

There seems to be some writing on the side of the bulb, can you tell us what it says or take a closer picture? That could help identify the bulb.
posted by Julnyes at 8:24 AM on November 29, 2021

I’d rewire with this 10-light string: white wire clear bulbs

Then, if you absolutely need amber color bulbs, you could buy this Amber, 50-light string and pray that those bulbs can be interchanged with the clear bulbs in the 10-light strand. (You’d have 40 spare bulbs left over)

Both of those links come from the same Amazon store, so if you browse the store more than I did, you may discover a better solution than mine. Good luck!
posted by DB Cooper at 10:49 AM on November 29, 2021

They look like normal “mini” bulbs to me. With that type you can just replace the bulb and keep the old plastic base, as Kadin2048 described. New bulbs are often sold with no base at all (e.g.) expecting that you’ll unbend the old bulb’s wires, remove it gently from the base, and insert the new one in its place, bending and possibly cutting the wires to match.

The bulbs may be a number of different voltage ratings, which makes it a bit tricky. I think you count the bulbs on one string and divide the voltage among them, so 10 bulbs would be 120/10 = 12v bulbs, 40 bulbs would be 120/40 = 3v bulbs, and so on. It looks like you have 10 so they’re probably 12v bulbs, but I can’t be sure.
posted by pocams at 12:17 PM on November 29, 2021