Mid-century lamps worth more if modern

Q: I remember my lamps in use at my grandmother's house in the 1950s. They are made of pottery decorated with flowers and are in excellent condition. There are no marks. What can you tell me about them?

A.A., Sun City Center

A: These pottery table lamp bases were manufactured in the 1950s in the United States, Germany or Japan. The floral decorations are transfers. Ceramics from any of these countries may have over- or under-glaze marks or paper labels, which often were attached to protective felt on lamp bases and are gone.

The period from the early 1950s through the mid-'60s probably was one the most creative for electric table lamps. Designers and manufacturers came up with diverse lamps using all kinds of media, and do-it-yourselfers made lamps out of nearly anything, from coffee grinders to Model T parts.

This pair of mid-century traditional lamps, which appear to have the original cloth shades, is worth around $50 to $75. Mid-century modern designs are preferable and trade for more money — often considerably more.

Q: I have searched the Internet repeatedly trying to find information about my floor lamp, purchased at a garage sale for $5. Parts of it, like the base, are made of cast iron, but some are made of pot-metal. I believe the lamp has been changed and I may need some parts. It is marked on the underside of the base "Fairmount 9600-1." I cannot find the name on the Internet.

B.B., Richmond

A: Your floor lamp probably was manufactured in the 1920s or '30s. I have seen many bases marked Fairmount, but I have found only one company that may have produced it, Fairmount Foundry Inc. of Pennsylvania.

Fairmount Foundry, founded in 1907 in Philadelphia, couldn't confirm if it once made lamp-base castings. The only other early foundry with the same name is Fairmount Tool & Forging, an automotive tool maker.

Antique and old floor lamps often are made from a collection of outsourced parts from several manufacturers. For example, Akro Agate Company produced decorative, colored glass fittings for floor and table lamps.

It appears that the multi-socket part has been removed and replaced by a single light bulb socket. If you want more than one bulb, a lamp store can help you find the part(s). You probably do need to rewire it, though, for safety.

The sum of its parts is worth more than what you paid. The lamp is worth around $35 to $45. You can find antique floor lamp parts on eBay and various Internet sites. You will also see complete lamps for comparison.