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How to Determine an Antique Lamp Value

Lamps have been around since the existence of humans; it's the electric lamps that have only been around since Benjamin Franklin discovered electricity. Shortly after this, lamp making became a new industry. That industry has increased tremendously since then, and antique collectors today take great pride in acquiring lamps from the 1930s and '40s. Every household had several lamps of different shapes and sizes. And many of the kerosene lamps that were used before electricity are still available today.

Instructions

- 1
  Examine the lamp and try to determine what material it is made from. It could be glass, porcelain, copper or another metal. If it is an electric lamp, check to see if the cord seems to be clot- or fiber-covered, or if it is a plastic-coated wire. Learn as much as you can about the lamp by observation and examination before you start searching.
- 2
  Check the bottom of the lamp for a company name, mark or number. Most major manufacturers made identifying marks on their products. If it is metal, look for a patent date stamped around the base edges.
- 3
  Look for lamps for sale that are identical to yours. The Internet or the library has lots of resources for researching. Many libraries have catalogs available online. Take into consideration any obvious repairs or replacements that have been done, as these can lower the value.
- 4
  Calculate the value of the lamp by choosing an average price from all the sales prices you find. Some auction sites also offer a listing of prices received on items that were sold. This is good because it will tell you exactly what it sold for, rather than just what the seller was asking for it.

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