1935 Idealite Popeye Lamp

This blog is about my fascination with all things Popeye!

I follow these lamps on eBay. I already own two sans shades but for some reason they fascinate me. In 1935 The Idealite, Inc. of Jersey City, NJ released this lamp that is made of Spelter pot metal and depicts Popeye holding on to a streetlamp much like the old ones with the Drunk hanging on for support after obviously over indulging in his addiction.

 

These lamps came with one of two different Drum shades. One has Popeye and Brutus about to do battle on shipboard with a fleeing Olive Oyl watching in despair from the rigging of the ship while floating in the "Rough House CAFE" J. Wellington Wimpy cooks himself a hamburger.

The second shade has Popeye and Olive chasing Wimpy as he runs off with someone’s goose held squawking in his fist.

 

The Original Popeye Drum Lampshade Measurements:
Opening on top 6 1/2", Bottom opening is 7 3/4"; Overall height of the shade is 6"

 

While many people buy these lamps they are often in less than presentable condition and so to give folks an incentive to buy and enjoy these great pieces of Popeye history I thought I would offer these restoring tips.

 

No I don’t sell the lamps or work for TESTORS paint.

 

Restoring a 1935 King Features Syndicate Popeye Lamp

 

Start by carefully copying the anchors drawn on Popeye forearms if they are there that way you can at least attempt to reproduce them on your refinished lamp. And take a few pictures in case you want to reference them later when painting.

 

If there is a felt cover on the bottom remove it. Next take apart the electrical components, but make sure you save them to purchase new ones to safely rewire the lamp at the end. The Popeye lamp is supposed to have a Brass Push-Thru Lamp Socket.The original had a 2-conductor 18-gauge  GOLD fabric cover wire and a vintage style Brown Button Plug. The plug that came with this lamp was a HUBBELL, number P - 755

 

Now if you are going to remove the top of the lamppost, it is a threaded piece of pipe so you need to unscrew it. Remember its “Righty tighty/lefty loosey.” When all your paint is removed reattach the lamppost pipe if you removed it so you can paint it with the rest of the lamppost.

 

You should now have the lamp fully disassembled. Are there any breaks or cracks you need to fix? If so use a two-part epoxy putty to repair the cracks and holes.

 

Now you want to remove the old paint, chances are you can scrap it off with an X-Acto knife. If you want or need it you can use a paint remover, you’re not going to hurt the pot-metal. Don’t forget to clean the piece of pipe. The reason you have to remove the old paint is that it will show under the new as a rough surface.

 

The reason these lamp did not hold onto their paint is that they were not primed before being painted when they were made. Be sure and cover the threads on the Lamppost pipe and stuff the hole in the bottom of the base of the lamp before priming or paints. Once the paint is all off use gray auto primer or TESTORS Flat Gray Primer - 3 oz. Spray Can.

 

If you are restoring the lamp you will be painting the pants white. For this you need a can of spray paint in TESTORS Flat White, SKU# 1258, because white shows brush marks. I did my sleeve cuffs in Sky Blue SKU#1162. Each item will probably require a drying period.

Paint the base Flat Gray with a TESTORS  1/4"Flat Paint Brush.

Detail swill require round brushes.

Then paint the rest using your pictures as a guide.

TESTORS SPRAY PAINT LIST

Flat White spray                      SKU# 1258

 

TESTORS BOTTLE PAINT LIST

Flat White                   SKU# 1168 Sleeve Cuffs/ Shirt Collar

Flat Black                    SKU# 1149 Hat Bill/ Shoes/Belt/Tattoos & Face Details

Flat Sea Blue               SKU# 1172 Shirt/hat

Flat Light Tan             SKU# 1170 Skin

Rubber                        SKU# 1183 Lamppost

Silver                           SKU# 1146 Button/Belt buckle

Flat Yellow                 SKU# 1169 Pipe

Flat Gray                     SKU#1163 Base

 

You can clean the old brass with Ne'er Dull wadding or not, just be sure and change out the insides for new ones. Either way you should keep the old brass cover/sleeve and toss the new brass.  You may be able to find the inner works with out buying the brass at all.

 

If your Popeye lamp does not have a pipe, go to a Miniature Shop that sells inch to a foot scale dollhouses and you can get a corncob pipe for him or you can try eBay search. If you want to repaint it you will need Flat Yellow SKU# 1169.

 

 

Enjoy!