Can Santa be fixed?
December 2, 2007 4:43 PM Subscribe
Fixing a sixty year old light bulb- is it possible?
Every year since her childhood my mother has had this old santa lightbulb that gets screwed into a string of lights. Her mother had it before her. It had worked every year- untill this one. It finally blew when she was screwing it in. The glass didn't break and it still looks fine, so she is thinking of turning it into an ornament. I want to know if it would be at all possible to have it professionally fixed. I think it would be an awesome gift to surprize her with at Christmas.
Can it be done?
Every year since her childhood my mother has had this old santa lightbulb that gets screwed into a string of lights. Her mother had it before her. It had worked every year- untill this one. It finally blew when she was screwing it in. The glass didn't break and it still looks fine, so she is thinking of turning it into an ornament. I want to know if it would be at all possible to have it professionally fixed. I think it would be an awesome gift to surprize her with at Christmas.
Can it be done?
Wow. I'd be very surprised if you can/ I've never heard of a light-bulb being repaired. Long ago was the time that it was more cost effective to replace rather than repair.
One possible option is to change the inners of it for a modern bulb (if even possible) do you have a picture of it?
posted by Brockles at 4:48 PM on December 2, 2007
One possible option is to change the inners of it for a modern bulb (if even possible) do you have a picture of it?
posted by Brockles at 4:48 PM on December 2, 2007
Loto: You will, however, need to evacuate the area around the filament and fill the glass with inert gas. It isn't air in there..
I think any answer will depend on whether this is a glass light, or an actual bulb. Pictures are essential, methinks.
posted by Brockles at 4:49 PM on December 2, 2007
I think any answer will depend on whether this is a glass light, or an actual bulb. Pictures are essential, methinks.
posted by Brockles at 4:49 PM on December 2, 2007
If it's a real bulb, then repairing it is probably more trouble that it's worth. You'd have to remove the old filament, put a new one in, then suck out the oxygen and fill it with inert gas.
A simpler solution may be to cut off the base, then attach the bulb to a small LED or other light that will hang down inside. This will make it look like it's still functional, but will be much easier to do.
posted by chrisamiller at 4:57 PM on December 2, 2007
A simpler solution may be to cut off the base, then attach the bulb to a small LED or other light that will hang down inside. This will make it look like it's still functional, but will be much easier to do.
posted by chrisamiller at 4:57 PM on December 2, 2007
It is pretty much impossible to fix, though if you hollowed out the metal base by drilling/grinding through the center post (I wouldn't dare try to remove the glass), you could put an LED light powered with some small batteries in there and it would last into eternity.
posted by fake at 5:08 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by fake at 5:08 PM on December 2, 2007
I have had occasion to have to figure out things about old bulbs once in a while and I'd make sure you run the idea past the people at bulbcollector.com (can't get the site to load at the moment) because you're sure to get a definitive answer.
posted by jessamyn at 5:27 PM on December 2, 2007 [2 favorites]
posted by jessamyn at 5:27 PM on December 2, 2007 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: I well. I thought is was probably hopeless, but I thought if anyone would know it would be the green. Thanks everyone!
posted by MayNicholas at 6:07 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by MayNicholas at 6:07 PM on December 2, 2007
I think you can fix it IF you find the right person. When I say fix I am saying that it can be made to work again. Get a few electricians to look at it. My bet is that the base of the bulb can be heated to remove the old base. The matter or fitting a new bottom would be an exercise in just find a base that would match the size. Ask around, you might find some one that can help you out and have a very, very cool Christmas gift. I think Jess has put you on the right path.
posted by bkeene12 at 7:42 PM on December 2, 2007
posted by bkeene12 at 7:42 PM on December 2, 2007
Some friends have had some neon signs repaired. It's hard to find people to do this work, but they are out there. If you really want to old bulb repaired to be "authentic," a neon maker or repairer should have all the tools to be able to do it. Check with the local sign shops, or a local business that has a custom neon sign, and they should be able to point you to one.
Unless it is a clear bulb you could probably get away with the LED idea, but you might want to isolate the socket. You may be able to drill out the base of the bulb and put in a mini-light with the connectors bypassed to use the power from the socket.
posted by Yorrick at 7:46 PM on December 2, 2007
Unless it is a clear bulb you could probably get away with the LED idea, but you might want to isolate the socket. You may be able to drill out the base of the bulb and put in a mini-light with the connectors bypassed to use the power from the socket.
posted by Yorrick at 7:46 PM on December 2, 2007
If it is the filament that has broken you can fix the lightbulb by jiggling it around while screwed in a small fixture and with the current turned on. Once the filament ends connect they will be reattached by the current running through.
But this will probably be a short term solution: the filament evaporates over time and it probably has a lot of weak spots by now.
posted by jouke at 8:10 PM on December 2, 2007
But this will probably be a short term solution: the filament evaporates over time and it probably has a lot of weak spots by now.
posted by jouke at 8:10 PM on December 2, 2007
I've heard of light bulbs being repaired. I have a book (don't recall the title at the moment) that makes reference women in [Axis country] repairing light bulbs in the very lean times after the war. So it can be done, but you are unlikely to find anyone practiced in this art today. I'd try a neon sign shop, as electricians don't generally melt glass.
posted by yohko at 3:53 PM on December 3, 2007
posted by yohko at 3:53 PM on December 3, 2007
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by Loto at 4:45 PM on December 2, 2007