How to re-wire this very old lamp

[plugwash]

I'm not aware of any regulation prohibiting use of wire nuts in the UK and ideal seem to make/sell them into the UK market. They aren't a popular choice though.

 

[Harry Bloomfield]

I'm not aware of any regulation prohibiting use of wire nuts in the UK and ideal seem to make/sell them into the UK market. They aren't a popular choice though.

The ceramic ones were banned in the 1960's, the ban includes all wire nuts.

 

[FrodoOne]

They are not allowed in the UK now, they used to be allowed back in the 1960's and called 'screw its', in a porcelain material. The modern version is plastic.

It seems that the porcelain version (called Screw-its) is still used in South Africa. (See https://radiant.co.za/product/connector-normal-screw-its-porcelain/ )

 

[JohnD]

IIRC the brand name is (was?) Scruits.

 

[bernardgreen]

Why is it that American electrical items always look dangerous?

Partly because they are dangerous if not treated and used with sufficient care.

For what it is worth faced with a similar conversion task I altered the lamp to operate on 12 Volts from a somewhat bulky toroidal transformer. ( before Switch Mode Power Supplies were common items ) The bulbs and bulb holders were vehicle lighting types.

 

[mattylad]

Before you pull the old wire out, you may be able to attach the new wire to it to pull it through.
Soldering each end together can do this.