Another Floor Lamp #1: Starting Small

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This is part 1 in a 9 part series: Another Floor Lamp

Arthur Jacobs designed many interesting and unusual lamps for Modeline in the 50's and 60's.  This particular floor lamp design has always caught my eye, Model 1525.  I had been getting the itch for another lighting project, and I chose this lamp to try to replicate.  I was in the middle of another project at the time (evidenced by the horrible bench clutter below), and I didn't have time start another large-scale project.  However, I did have time to work on a scale model.  I used 1:6 scale to match the scale of the Dolphin chair model I built a while ago.  Building a model does help you work through some (not all) of the challenges of building full-scale, so the time is not wasted.

Here's an example of an original Modeline 1525. 


After modeling the base and staves, I cut out the scaled-down pieces using some scrap Alaska Yellow Cedar I had left over from a birdhouse project. 

Base with a fender washer glued to the underside for weight.



Aligning the staves at 120 degrees to one another and vertical in their respective planes will be one of the challenges of this project.  The edges are square on the staves where they're meant to join, so I fashioned a tiny center core piece with an equilateral triangle cross section to provide flat surfaces for the stave joints.  This is a dry fit below.  (you can't see the core in the photos)


I made some alignment discs to help hold things in the correct position while gluing.   I don't think I'll need to go to this extreme in the full-size lamp, but it certainly helped with the fiddly 1/6 size model parts.


With the staves glued together, I could attach them to the base with tiny drops of glue.


I fashioned a "lampshade" from some heavy-stock writing paper, and hooked-up a little strip of LEDs for some realistic lighting.


Photo op!



19 Comments

Going to be cool!

Any sneak preview spoilers on the shade material?????
My intent is to make the shade from something close to the original - it has a linen look, but I don't know if it was linen.  It could have been some kind of paper.  Whatever I use, I'll line it with styrene sheet made for lampshades to give it rigidity.  I don't have the materials yet, though.
very cool lamp, love the design. what is the actual size ?

working with my hands is a joy,it gives me a sense of fulfillment,somthing so many seek and so few find.-SAM MALOOF.

Thanks, Pottz.  The online auction sites list it around 61" tall and 11.5" wide, which I assume is the max diameter of the shade.
You are defining your life with MCM furnishings! People will say "the 50's want their style back".
Yeah, I have really developed an appreciation for much of the style of that era.  It’s gratifying to be able to recreate some of the forms for my home.  
Very cool.  I am a fan of the MCM look too.  We have collected a few pieces over the last 12 or so years.  This is a lamp we picked up at an estate sale. 



  

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

BTW, I have seen lamp shades made from mulberry paper as well. 

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.

Nice lamp, Nathan!   It looks like it could be a Modeline?  I don’t know about Mulberry paper - one more thing to research. 😀
Here’s a photo of an original when illuminated. 

Interesting lamp, Ross—very elegant lines. I’m looking forward to seeing you build it.

You’re going to end up with a great collection of 1:6 scale furniture, like something you’d see in a museum.
Yes, it is a Modeline.  We have another Modeline of a different style but it is not in a place I can take a picture of it at the moment.  

--Nathan, TX. Hire the lazy man. He may not do as much work but that's because he will find a better way.


 Ron Stewart
 commented about 3 hours ago
Interesting lamp, Ross—very elegant lines. I’m looking forward to seeing you build it.

You’re going to end up with a great collection of 1:6 scale furniture, like something you’d see in a museum.
Thanks, Ron.  You might be right about me ending up with a bunch of scale models.  Even with 3D computer models available, it's still nice to have a 3D physical model to hold and view from different angles.


 Lazyman
 commented about 2 hours ago
Yes, it is a Modeline.  We have another Modeline of a different style but it is not in a place I can take a picture of it at the moment.  
You can't beat the feeling of finding a treasure at a garage sale or estate sale for a good price.   I found a Lane Acclaim bench/coffee table (the really long one with 6 legs) on Marketplace for $15.  I still need to refinish the top that has some water stains, but even so, it was a steal.
Ross

That is a cool lamp!

note- a fender washer comes in handy

Petey

Modeline is new to me, thank you for introducing more cool MCM designs to me that I did not know of. It sems that they made quite a lot of interesting designs, definitely the best ones being the more MCM-style ones - and the one you are making is my favorite as well.

Looking forward to see your personal take on this!

"The good chair is a task one is never completely done with" Hans Wegner

My first thought: Danish, or perhaps from another Scandinavian country. And yes, indeed, Danish. I love Scandinavian design, and this one is no exception. A very beautiful lamp.

https://dutchypatterns.com/


 Petey
 commented 1 day ago
Ross

That is a cool lamp!

note- a fender washer comes in handy
Thanks, Petey.  While I don't need one often, I'm never sorry I bought a whole box of those fender washers.


 Kaerlighedsbamsen
 commented 1 day ago
Modeline is new to me, thank you for introducing more cool MCM designs to me that I did not know of. It sems that they made quite a lot of interesting designs, definitely the best ones being the more MCM-style ones - and the one you are making is my favorite as well.

Looking forward to see your personal take on this!
Thanks, Ty.   Yes, Modeline made some attractive lamps and then some others that look a little wacko to me.  😁


 Dutchy
 commented about 5 hours ago
My first thought: Danish, or perhaps from another Scandinavian country. And yes, indeed, Danish. I love Scandinavian design, and this one is no exception. A very beautiful lamp.
The Danes deserve credit of a lot of great MCM furniture design, although they can't claim this lamp.  Arthur Jacobs the designer was an American as was the Modeline company.   I agree though that the lamp does have that Scandi look (which is what drew me to it).
The Danes deserve credit of a lot of great MCM furniture design, although they can't claim this lamp.  Arthur Jacobs the designer was an American as was the Modeline company.   I agree though that the lamp does have that Scandi look (which is what drew me to it).
Learned something new. I found the information via Google, but now it's clear to me it wasn't correct. Thanks for the update.

https://dutchypatterns.com/

I'm late tot he party, but looks to be a cool project with some interesting challenges. I'm looking forward to catching up!