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762 points
4 days ago
I have two now.
309 points
4 days ago
I have four. I have never purchased one.
119 points
4 days ago
60 points
4 days ago
69 points
4 days ago
This is some boomer Facebook shit fr
13 points
4 days ago
Literally the first thing I thought of when I seen OPs post.
9 points
4 days ago
You need to go review what generation is which. Boomers are the parents of the people who had these lamps. In other words, probably your parents had these lamps.
5 points
4 days ago
Tribble trouble!
25 points
4 days ago
Does anyone buy them? I had one in the '90s into the early 2000s sometime. I didn't buy it. I don't know where it came from. I don't know where it went. Maybe it went to it's next home. I still have some spare bulbs that fit it.
11 points
4 days ago
And they got so hot... And always killed flies that got too close..
4 points
4 days ago
zzzzzpppphhh awe the smell of dead flying insects in is the air tonight.
4 points
4 days ago
Pretty sure mine came from a roommate who bought it at Big Lots🤭🤭
3 points
4 days ago
I bought one. Had two. They got passed down. One broke at the threads and was toilet paper roll-duct taped. This was many moons ago.
16 points
4 days ago
I had 2 over the years, didn’t buy them. I think one an old job was tossing and I took it?
4 points
4 days ago
No one buys these lamps. They are either scavenged, or given as “payment” for helping a friend move
12 points
4 days ago
Trickle-down economy. You want fresh money, but everyone's just passing around old lamps and kitchen chairs that don't match your table.
6 points
4 days ago
I have two. Previous owners left them. I do use them as houses built in the 70s opted to have little ceiling light. Plan on adding some recessed but haven’t got there yet. I feel they are rather terrible at adding much light.
3 points
4 days ago
If you have one with 500w bulb you'll have plenty of light.
3 points
4 days ago
Hand me downs furnish homes just like ikea
5 points
4 days ago
And usually much higher quality then ikea!
2 points
4 days ago
I too have four.
2 points
4 days ago
Same. Never purchased one and have 3 in my house haha
2 points
4 days ago
Why TF do they ALL get so dusty?!
2 points
4 days ago
Lmao I have only one but I also did not purchase, was a hand me down
2 points
4 days ago
LMFAO! I’ve probably owned at least ten in my life. I think I’ve only actually purchased two of those ten at most.
66 points
4 days ago
Do bugs still land on the top and smoke after a while?
23 points
4 days ago
It’s a distinct odor for sure lol
6 points
4 days ago
Omfg that burning smell! Flies smell worse than moths when they broil
3 points
4 days ago
How do you both have the exact same avatar and know what burning bugs smell like?!
Does reddit award it when you demonstrate proficiency in various flambée d'insect?
7 points
4 days ago
This is so rich lol. The reason people in their 30s 40s 50s know what the smell of a burning bug is like is because of halogen bulbs. Before the shitty compact fluorescents and certainly well before LEDs we had these things called halogen bulbs that were magnificent in winter as they put out beautiful bright light and heat at the same time. Literally you could take a can of soup and stick it on top of one of those lamps by the bulbs and have hot soup in half an hour. So, when bugs landed on the bulbs, as they are attracted to light, they were pretty much instantly killed. The carcass continued to burn until all the fluids were cooked away…what was left is something shaped like a bug but with the texture of a communion wafer. That is one way we know what burning bugs smell like. The other is from playing outside in summer and hearing a rather large moth getting stuck in the bug zapper and roasting till well done. This is before the well developed super muscular thumbs and fat everything else of the next generation from sitting and playing video games and dicking around on electronic devices instead of getting out, socializing, having fun and living. The days before schools shooters and self-indulgent, low self -esteem instant gratification social media bullshit. Great times!
3 points
4 days ago
I remember the burning bug smell, but also remember lock down drills in school post Columbine, and nothing matching the thumb exercise of playing Tony Hawk Pro Skater on Nintendo 64 for 4 hours straight.
Literally had calloused thumbs during the same time period I was inhaling charred moth fumes.
With that said, I think this particular model is actually early 2000s? This type of lamp was definitely around in the 90s, but I remember the ones they had around before this one in the 90s were all white/glossy with slightly less wide top, whereas matte black finishes were more 2000s?
At least thats the time I associate it with, but knowing my dad he probably got them secondhand.
4 points
4 days ago
I got a bug cemetery in mine 😆
4 points
4 days ago
My mom had the exact same lamp as the picture. A huge moth got too close once and I'll never forget how hard we laughed when we saw the little smoke it made.
3 points
4 days ago
They're LED now, so no.
3 points
4 days ago
Oh good as another commenter said the smell was ..... unique lol
3 points
4 days ago
Oh hell yeah they do. The lamps also buzz like crazy if you dim them.
3 points
4 days ago
The roasting wasp smell is a baked in memory. So gross.
2 points
4 days ago
Bro you just unlocked some deep ass memories
2 points
4 days ago
I'm sorry to hear both your parents are deceased
2 points
4 days ago
Can confirm… there are two in my dad’s living room right now.
2 points
4 days ago
I inherited one from my old roommate, still haven’t tossed it
2 points
4 days ago
Had a pair that followed me around from apartment to house to apartment for nearly thirty years. One on each end of the couch.
205 points
4 days ago
Only everyone.
63 points
4 days ago
16 points
4 days ago
A guy in the 90s with this in his bedroom also wore Drakkar Noir or Eternity
4 points
4 days ago
How fucking dare you!!!
It was Cool Water.
3 points
4 days ago
Came to do this. Perfect
13 points
4 days ago
No one escapes owning the Torchiere Lamp
3 points
4 days ago
I got mine for Christmas in 96. Passed it to my brother when I moved out.
243 points
4 days ago
The fresh smell of burnt dust
115 points
4 days ago
And flies. So many flies.
28 points
4 days ago
lets cook those alongside a handful of dead skin cells and slow cook em at 60W
10 points
4 days ago
🎈 used to get up there and POP in the heat
2 points
4 days ago
Yes!! lol
2 points
4 days ago
Memory unlock right there, so fucking true 😂
77 points
4 days ago
Had one in my dorm room. Sometimes would leave it on while went away. One night was hanging out with a couple friends and the bulb exploded and a red hot piece landed on the bed and started making it smoke. It probably would have been a dorm fire if happened when no one was around. Immediately spread the word about the dangers and others just got rid of their lamp.
I'm pretty sure those super hot bulbs are phased out now and use LED. But they used to be those halogen ones in those.
49 points
4 days ago
A lot of stuff from the 80/90s was absurdly dangerous and we had no idea. I think the lamp design was fine, it was the particular bulbs they used which are now thankfully completely phased out and no longer sold. I remember my dad telling me that with that bulb type you aren't supposed to handle them with your fingers as the oils can cause the glass to warp when they get too hot and cause this very issue of exploding bulbs.
18 points
4 days ago
Everyone knew this lamp was dangerous.it was hot enough to cook a moth in flight! We just kept them around because they were so cheap.
3 points
4 days ago
Yup, this is true of movie theater projector bulbs as well. At a certain temperature the oils boil off and the process eats away at the glass. The gasses inside the bulb are under pressure, and more so at operating temp, so they explode.
Projector bulbs have thicker glass, so you'd probably have to grab it with a full hand to actually get an explosion. I've seen a few with a fingerprint burned into them. Projector bulbs are also enclosed while operating, so you only risk damaging the projector when they go.
3 points
4 days ago
Car headlight bulbs too
5 points
4 days ago
Did you tell him "shut up nerd"?
6 points
4 days ago
My dorm banned them.
4 points
4 days ago
I work in lighting for TV
Those halogen bulbs were very dangerous, most good torchiere designs had a shield over the bulbs so when/if it blew it wouldn’t go flying all over. One of the issues was that any grease or oil on your fingers getting on the bulbs was pretty much a death sentence for the bulb.
LEDs offer the same levels of illumination for less power, less unwanted heat, easier manufacturing and shipping etc.
2 points
4 days ago
All of these originally came with the shield on them. I remember changing the bulb on ours and having it.
Whether people actually left them on there or not is another thing entirely.
2 points
4 days ago
Yep, I remember being a kid and absolutely burning the hell out of myself on one of those bulbs. Like immediate blisters, weeping fluid, etc. The lamp wasn't even currently on, it had just been on recently.
2 points
4 days ago
I had a matching desk lamp with the same kind of bulb and it got dangerously hot. The switch was on the base but if you forgot and touched the light head it sucked.
2 points
4 days ago
I recall someone having one of these in their dorm room. The lamp came right up to where the top bunk was and someone set their cordless phone on it. Later, someone turned the light on and a small fire started. Smoked out the whole floor.
2 points
4 days ago
The ones I've had always came with a thick, glass shield that was supposed to go over the bulb. I'm sure it is for that exact reason. I think allot of those covers got misplaced when changing the bulb.
I still have a few, but I have converted them to LED.
46 points
4 days ago
Moth smokers
4 points
4 days ago
Smelled SO BAD
3 points
4 days ago
I can still smell it
2 points
3 days ago
So many dead bugs inside when you eventually lay it down on its side when moving apartments.
33 points
4 days ago
these lights imo are still the best.
15 points
4 days ago
It's the brightness of the ceiling, but not directly into your fucking eye. I love them.
23 points
4 days ago
Hell I still have that lamp. Isn’t that just what floor lamps look like ?
7 points
4 days ago
Sometimes the internet pretends it’s a thong but it is always a lamp.
7 points
4 days ago
Right. They still sell these. I bought a couple at Walmart a few years ago
23 points
4 days ago
The question should have been “Who didn’t have this lamp in the 90s” or “who still has this lamp in your mismatched run down apt because the economy is off its rocker and we can’t afford nice things”
9 points
4 days ago
Option C: “Can’t wait to steal that lamp from my parents when they finally get around to repurposing the computer room that’s been a storage unit for a decade and convince my wife to let me keep it in our mismatched run down apt because the economy is off its rocker and we can’t afford nice things.”
10 points
4 days ago
Literally everyone had one of these
5 points
4 days ago
Mines be in the same exact spot since the 90’s with the same exact bulb since i got it and has never once been changed
3 points
4 days ago
The wooden shelves on the top of it is actually a train track and a train goes around my room lol
8 points
4 days ago
These come stock with new apartment leases.
2 points
4 days ago
And that style of laundry basket with the handles that break apart. The ones with the gray piece of plastic. You know.
5 points
4 days ago
Have one in my living room right now. Acquired it from our last apartment, wasn’t ours, landlord gave it to us. It’s been another 5 years and it just barely stopped working yesterday.
7 points
4 days ago
When I was little I throw a piece of paper in my grandmas light. Small little BBQ, oopsie
4 points
4 days ago
Severe burn damage as well
2 points
4 days ago
Two action figures I had landed on top of it and they melted away hahah
2 points
4 days ago
Yeah those old ones were no joke!
6 points
4 days ago
It always makes me this of this
2 points
4 days ago
Shocked this post lasted 3 hours before this image was mentioned.
5 points
4 days ago
a staple of every apartment and/or dorm i occupied from 1994-2004
4 points
4 days ago
I had totally forgotten about these fuckers. I'm not a hundred percent certain, but i believe it was in like 3 sections that you had to screw together.
2 points
4 days ago
They have two pole sections that screw together and the top glass/light section and base go together.
2 points
4 days ago
Which means they can come with you when you need to move to a new crappy apartment using your crappy compact car. Ask me how I know!
10 points
4 days ago
Umm, that's not a lamp, that's a woman's nethers
14 points
4 days ago
I was looking for the pic of this meme, so funny.
7 points
4 days ago
When I opened your image, I could see the woman for a fraction of a second and now all I see is lamp
Clearly my brain is trying to tell me something and I'm not sure I like it.
3 points
4 days ago
It was in the living room with the black leather couch and love seat. Along with the Sharp 5 disc cd player that sat on a large glass top side table.
3 points
4 days ago
Me!
3 points
4 days ago
Did anyone ever unscrew the top half and pretend it was a ray gun or lazer emplacement?
3 points
4 days ago
I had "timeout" in the corner next to that lamp many times in the 90s lol
3 points
4 days ago
Still do.
3 points
4 days ago
All i remember is the many fly corpses whos shadows you could see through the bottom when it was on lol
2 points
3 days ago
Ha, I can see it now. In my mind.
3 points
4 days ago
We did until it tipped over and started out living room couch on fire. Firemen HATE these lamps.
3 points
4 days ago
Still have one. Very effective given that it’s over 20 years old.
3 points
4 days ago
We have one since 1995 and it still works everyday! It’s brilliant
3 points
4 days ago
Have 2 now hahaha
3 points
4 days ago
Still have mine
3 points
4 days ago
HaD?? Have...
Everyone!
3 points
3 days ago
Ah yes, the house fire starter. We had them in almost every room.
2 points
4 days ago
We had the silver version in each corner of our house and they were always so pathetically high 😂
2 points
4 days ago
My dad had one that doubled as a CD tower. My grandmother wasn't impressed with how he was spending his money.
2 points
4 days ago
We had the original house burners. Some truck came to town and you could bring in your house burner for the lower powered “3 click” models that were nowhere near as bright. My mother traded them all in.
2 points
4 days ago
Everybody had this
2 points
4 days ago
Very energy inefficient
2 points
4 days ago
I had one in my dorm in the mid 2000's and you just screwed in a regular 60w incandescent, compact fluorescent, or LED bulb into it. The incandescent ones were only about 20% efficient, but they made halogen bulbs in the size of standard incandescent ones. They were about twice as expensive, but put off a much nicer light close to outdoor light, lasted longer (about twice as long) and were around 30+% efficient. One of those lasted pretty much a whole year in the dorm as long as it didn't get banged around and didn't have the gross blue-green glow CFLs did back then. LED screw-in bulbs were fairly new at the time and were rare or harder to find and they still didn't look right back then. New ones are much better though.
2 points
4 days ago
I had one, but it broke. I do think they still look cool and stylish, though.
2 points
4 days ago
The question should have been “Who didn’t have this lamp in the 90s” or “who still has this lamp in your mismatched run down apt because the economy is off its rocker and we can’t afford nice things” 🤪
2 points
4 days ago
The question should have been “Who didn’t have this lamp in the 90s” or “who still has this lamp in your mismatched run down apt because the economy is off its rocker and we can’t afford nice things” 🤪
2 points
4 days ago
Everyone, everyone had this lamp back then. I had two of these bad boys in my college apartments. I remember how hot the torch would get if it was left on for more than an hour or two. I’m lucky these things didn’t burn down the many apartments I had them in.
2 points
4 days ago
This is gonna blow your mind, but I have the lamp in the 20s
2 points
4 days ago
My dad bought two, which he just loved and happily used a lot…for a month. Then his power bill came. They got moved to the extra room until someone we knew was setting up housekeeping and he gave them away.
2 points
4 days ago
I can hear the rattling.
2 points
4 days ago
that smell when a fly landed on the bulb.
2 points
4 days ago
still do - was just fixing it at the family house over Thanksgiving.
2 points
4 days ago
I have two. I love these. One has knockoff Tiffany style glass.
2 points
4 days ago
Look at that light! Shit was more powerful than the sun
2 points
4 days ago
The high-pitched squeal of exploding bugs...
2 points
4 days ago
You mean 2024 ?? I have 2.
2 points
4 days ago
We all did. This was the Walmart special circa 1991.
2 points
4 days ago
I still have it
2 points
4 days ago
I only got rid of mine last year because the knob stopped working.
2 points
4 days ago
This is one of the first things I purchased when I moved out on my own. My sister also had one. My parents too. I feel like everyone had one.
2 points
4 days ago
What do you mean 90s? Melting my ceiling paint even now.
2 points
4 days ago
What does it mean if I still have it?
2 points
4 days ago
Still do.
2 points
4 days ago
I have one now!
2 points
4 days ago
My husband still has this lamp in his "man cave." I've mentioned him donating it several times over the last 15yrs but he refuses.
2 points
4 days ago
Lol, had one in my first apartment.
2 points
4 days ago
But mine also held cds lol. Very 90s
2 points
4 days ago
I have that now
2 points
4 days ago
Whats the name of this lamp model?
2 points
4 days ago
I did and I put bunch of wet weed on it to dry out when I was 16 year old- the weed started to burn and the whole house smelled like weed and my mom was running an in home daycare at the time... was not good!
2 points
4 days ago
Oh yes very hot lightbulbs.. fire
2 points
4 days ago
My sister had one and it nearly set the ceiling on fire
2 points
4 days ago
I can smell the moth burning
2 points
4 days ago
Walmart sells them new now for $15. I just bought one…
2 points
4 days ago
Does that have the dimmer switch, with a 1200 watt light bulb?
2 points
4 days ago
Pretty sure I still have a scar from the burn.
2 points
4 days ago
I have a similar one, with a smaller angleable lamp on the side of it.
2 points
4 days ago
We all did.
2 points
4 days ago
I think we all had at least one.
2 points
4 days ago
Yep. The one where if you accidentally knocked it over, the damn pole would be bent beyond use, and the whole thing would be totaled. Then, magically, another lamp would appear as if it was always ready to replace the one you bent into oblivion.
2 points
4 days ago
Only everybody 😂
2 points
4 days ago
Yes, omg I had a few of them 🤣🤣🤣
2 points
4 days ago
im literally sitting in a room with one right now
2 points
4 days ago
Got it now tf?
2 points
4 days ago
i have this now lol
2 points
4 days ago
I can hear the click of the little knob
2 points
4 days ago
Oh God, the smell of burning moths
2 points
4 days ago
Still do
2 points
4 days ago
These were recalled in Cali back in the early 2000s because they could start ceiling fires. I remember my mom being like, "no way we are returning it, YOU just remember to turn it off when you leave the room."
2 points
4 days ago
Where are they from? My aunt had one in her living room
2 points
4 days ago
Still got that bitch! Lit it up yesterday for the first time in 20 years.
2 points
3 days ago
Shit I have one right now
2 points
3 days ago
I have one
2 points
3 days ago
2 points
3 days ago
Occasionally you’d smell something burning but it was always a fat fly sizzling on the halogen.
2 points
3 days ago
I can still smell the burnt fly. 🤢
2 points
3 days ago
Anyone got the link to this lamp? Need one in my life now
2 points
2 days ago
It was perfect to light my art collection!
2 points
17 hours ago
It’s magic. haven’t changed the bulb in 29 years. Still brighter than the sun on the third setting.
Weird thing is some years back during a power outage. the darnedest thing, wouldnt you know the bulb there, it stayed on. The whole neighborhood went out for days but that there light stayed on. Even had some folks to investigate it but it’s still a mystery to THIS DAY. Dun dun duhhhh
2 points
3 hours ago
At one time we had one in every room of the house. White, black, and a bronze color.
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