Meet the Lightkeepers
Lightkeepers are people who believe the things that matter are worth looking after. They repair, restore and care for their Anglepoise lamps, keeping them working rather than replacing them.
Here, we share the stories of lamps that have been fixed, rewired, passed down and put back to work, along with the people who keep them going. Because a well-made object can have a long life, especially when someone is willing to take care of it.
Tom
A Well-Travelled Anglepoise
I bought this 1950’s Anglepoise, after immediately falling in love with it, from a shop in Dunster, Somerset, while holidaying in the county. I bought it prior to visiting Dunster Castle on a sunny May afternoon, and collected it afterwards. I carried it through the village back to our car in a cardboard fruit box that the kindly owners of the shop had packaged it in. From there, it travelled to Selworthy, and then on to Porlock, in the back of the car, before going back to our holiday let, and then eventually back to home to West Sussex. It has, therefore, travelled many miles and has found a good home with me, and has illuminated many a good book.
Esme
A New Job, an Old Lamp
When I started my new job, my grandparents gave me their old Apex 90. It had been with them for years, so it felt much more special than buying something new for my desk.
It needed a little attention after so much use, but nothing that couldn’t be put right. I ordered a few spare parts from Anglepoise, gave the lamp a careful clean and tightened everything up. With a bit of time and care, it was soon back to working as it should.
It now sits on my desk and gets used every day. I love that something my grandparents used for so many years has found a place in my own working life. It still has the marks and signs of its age, which I wouldn’t want to change. They’re part of its story.
Hopefully, I’ll be looking after it for many more years to come.
Bjoern
A Rare Anglepoise Rediscovered
I discovered my three step Anglepoise from 1935 on a foggy August morning in Brighton in a junk shop. It was a little rusty and had the wrong cable and lamp holder, but the base and pinhole shade were unmistakable. I couldn’t believe my luck and bought it on the spot. It must have stayed in a loft for a long time to still be in fairly good condition. I rewired it and bought a different model just to get the old Bakelite switch for the shade. After some investigation I found that this lamp was particularly rare: it did not feature an earthing screw in the stem. It also said “patent pending” on the stem, which then put its manufacture into the first half of 1935. Luckily the new LED bulbs are as light as the old filament bulbs, as older generations proved to be too heavy for the original springs. – This lamp is really special and I will certainly never sell it.
Keeping Anglepoise Lamps Going for Generations
Anglepoise lamps are designed to work hard and last. The Lightkeepers are the people who help make that possible: owners, repairers and enthusiasts who choose to care for, maintain and repair the things that matter to them.
Across the Lightkeepers community, you’ll find stories of Anglepoise lamps that have been repaired, rewired and restored to working order. Some have been passed down through families, others rescued and given a new home, while many have simply stayed beside their owners for years of everyday use. Each one shows what can happen when good design is made to last and, importantly, is looked after along the way.
Caring for your Anglepoise can be as simple as regular cleaning and maintenance, tightening a loose fitting or replacing a worn component. For older lamps, a repair or professional rewire can help extend their working life even further. Spare parts and support are available for many Anglepoise models, helping you keep your lamp working beautifully rather than replacing it.
This approach has been part of Anglepoise for generations. Our current collections are Guaranteed for Life, reflecting our commitment to making lights that can remain useful for years to come.
Have you repaired, restored or cared for an Anglepoise of your own? Join the Lightkeepers and share the story and photographs of your lamp. Your experience could help inspire someone else to keep their light going.