A very rough guide to dating your 1227

All information is based on my very limited experience and internet research, so much of what is here may be inaccurate. I am not a restorer.

Anglepoise lamps have become highly sort after, however there’s a lot of misinformation and plenty of mis-selling going on. This page is a rough guide intended to help you date your lamp  (I don’t mean taking it out to a fancy restaurant, you are of course, welcome to do so but you’l get some funny looks!).

If your looking to buy a 1227 be careful, ALOT of 1227 Anglepoise’s are sold as being from the 1930’s. Most of the time this is not the case! 1930s examples are very very rare, most 1227’s that come on the market are from the 1950’s and 1960’s.

So heres what to look out for

The three tier 1935-38 model:

(Image courtesy of 30-something.co.uk)

• It will have a three step base, cast base.
• It’s arm will be made out of steel.
• it will have a slimmer shade than later models with sets pin-holes on the sides for ventilation. These will usually be aluminium as with most Anglepoise shades but on rare occasions they are sometimes Bakelite.
• There will be a large knurled screw adjuster about halfway up the lower part of the arm.
• there will be a small bolt near the top of the second part of the arm which holds in place the ‘wrist’ for the shade.
• The the ‘V’ section at the bottom will ALWAYS look different to later models, being made of three parts rather than later single castings. This gives the appearance of  the centre being a raised (this is chromed). The word Anglepoise is indented into this.
• There will usually be a large earthing screw on the rear side of the ‘V’ section. I say usually because on very early and very very rare examples the bolt had not yet been added. These lamps may also be stamped ‘Pats Pending’ rather than the later ‘Patented’ stamp.

• Chrome bars there will be two slotted though the ‘V’ section.  A wider one which holds the two outer springs in place and a smaller one that holds the middle spring. Sometimes this is not present and the wider bar holds all three, but in this case there should be a hole for the missing part.
• Springs: the springs if original will be simple. they will simply loop around at the top and bottom, if there is a cap of any kind they areprobly later replacements

This model is very rare and if you have one then its worth something. Properly restored or good condition ones can go for anything up to £350 (ish) sometimes more in antique shops.

Beware Lamps of Questionable Origins:

There are sometimes lamps that may appear to be older than they actually are. According to some of the experts and dealers I have talked to, there is a practice among some less reputable dealers where they take the 2 step versions of the 1227 (usually the early post-1938 versions which had several similarities to the1935 three-step) and add a modern reproduction three-step base to them in order to give the impression of the earlier and rarer and more valuable  ‘three step’.

There are tell tale signs: (these are NOT proof however just indicators).

• The Base: On original three step the casing was quite rough with rounded edges, this was the reason they used crincle paint; to hide the imperfections. This means if you see one that is a bit to perfect with crisp edges and a smooth or chrome finnish theres a chance it may not be original. However this is not proof  as it is possible that the original rough casting has been machined to be smooth in order for it to be chromed.
• The ‘V’ section ( the bit that attaches the arm to the base): Original three steps had a ‘V’ section made out of several separate parts bolted together. so If you see a 3 step do with a ‘V’ section consisting of a single casting, it might be worth thinking twice, as this is generally only found on later versions (usually post1938).

There is some controversy on this because there were so many variants of the 1227. Especially post WW2 when due to materials shortages it was not uncommon for left over parts to be used up, resulting in ‘Frankenstein’ lamps with parts from different eras.

It’s something to be wary off so its important if your spending a substantial amount to be sure you are using a reputable seller. If your concerned ask what work has been done and if possible  ask to see photos of the lamp pre-restoration. [NOTE: Sometimes reputable sellers may have bought stock in good faith, they may not be aware of an individual lamps origins themselves].

The first two tier 1938- early 1948 * 

In a-lot of places people say this version stayed the same for the rest of its production, this is not the case! The Early two step base 1227:

• Will have a shade virtually identical to that of the three step, that is smaller than later versions and with pin holes in the sides.
• The shade may in some cases have small holes in the rear as well as the sides (though this is sometimes also found on some examples of 3 tier step lamps)
• The arm will also be  nearly identical: steel and with the same large knurled adjuster, and little bolt to hold the wrist in place.
• the base will have two steps and NO cover, if its been stripped this will look a bit knobbly as the castings were not finely finished.  also if you turn it over the base will have no recess for a nut, instead the base itself will be threaded to attach the ‘V’ section.
• Paint, if its original this will be a form of lumpy crackle effect paint, Terry an sons used this to hide imperfections in the castings.
• The ‘V’ section varies on these, its normally the later cast section which remained virtually unchanged (apart from the number of holes drilled though it) for the rest of the 1227’s life (with the exception of the modern re-issue) but sometimes they have the earlier version seen on the Three steps.
• The cast ‘V’ section on these while very similar is slightly taller than on later versions.
• Chrome bars: same as the three step.
• Springs: same as the three step.

During the Second World War Terry and sons made very few lamps for the domestic market and didn’t really scale up production again until the 1950’s. These are also relatively rare and while not as valuable as the Three tier base are still sought after.

The most common two tier late; 1948/1952 – the beginning of the1960s

(dates are approximate, some sources indicate 1952 being the initial manufacture date of this lamp while others indicate it may have been produced three of years prior to this)

(Image courtesy of 30-something.co.uk)

There are a few notable differences here:

• Larger shade, especially at the back, with ventilation holes only on the back (no side pin holes).
• the arm is made from aluminium (due to steel shortages after the war). If its painted you can tell the difference as theres a more rounded edge to the corners of square cross section.
• Smaller knurled adjuster bolt this time near the bottom of the lower part of the arm
• The base will have a painted cap over the cast base and there will be a recess in the bottom for a nut to attach the arm.
• The springs will have an adjustable cap on the top with a small bent hook on the top( this allows the tension of the spring to be adjusted).

This is the the joint (with the later model) most common version of the Anglepoise. It is also the archetypal and most iconic version, not to be sniffed at at all.

The final 1227 two tier (well until the re-issue that is!) 1960s-1969

 

Image by kind permission from: http://www.autrefois-la-lumiere.com/2011/02/lampe-anglepoise-1227.html#

This is virtually identical the above but there are a few differences:

• There will be no rim on the shade. All previous versions had this but not this one.
• There is a sharper angle at the back of the shade, making the back very flat.
• The hinge that attached the three sections of the lower arms together at the bottom if replaced by an single plastic casting. Its difficult to explain This is what I mean compared to This
• the higher crossbar and in fill bits that slot into the tops and bottoms of the arms are all plastic ( on earlier lamps these are always chromed metal).
• the springs will have caps with drilled out holes in the tops.
• The very last of these had the same ‘v’ section as found on the Anglepoise 75 which replaced the 1227. These are rounded  at the bottom with an oval makers plate.

This is probably the least desirable version of the 1227, the fittings have a cheaper feel and the plastic hinge often breaks and is difficult to find a replacement for.

Also due to the lack of a rim on the shade, the shade dents and mis shapes more easily. But IT IS STILL WORTH RESTORING.

The ‘New’ Anglepoise Original 1227.   2009-present

(Image from anglepoise.co.uk)

To celebrate the 75 anniversary of the initial release 1227 Terry and sons re-launched the 1227 in 2009 (I know that would mean it came out in 1934 but 1935 is what iv got).

Ok I know if you’v got one of these you probably know its new but anyway…This version is nicely made an cherry picks a few nice elements from from the 1227’s history (and one form the type 75).

• The ‘V’ section (i know i keep calling it a V but it could be a U or a Y, hell it could be anything) looks a-lot like those found on the early Three step based models from the 1930’s but without the earthing bolt. 
• the arm is aluminium like all post war anglepoise’s but t has a nice big knurled adjuster: this looks like those found on earlier models but is at the bottom of the arm like later models.
• the shade is the shape of the 1950’s version a part from the ventilation holes which are long slotted holes in the rear rather than circular ones.
• At the bottom of the arms there is a gap between the chrome and the metal, it is flush on earlier lamps.
• also the cable does not come through the ‘wrist’ instead it pop out of the back of the upper arm and the cable go’s down on the inside at the ‘elbow’ just like you’d see on the type 75 anglepoise.
• the springs are also simple, a bit like those found on the 1930s 3 and 2 steps.
• main difference is its almost always shinny, but hey its new.

Please be aware that there are many MANY variants due to constantly changing production, material shortages, using up old parts etc. If your variant isn’t here this is not to surprising hence this being a VERY rough guide.

* Thanks to Robert Munro, for this information based on two adverts both from 1948, one with the earlier 2 step, the other with the later version. This indicates that this was the cross over year.

All images are here are obtained from the internet, if an image is yours and you wish me to remove it, message me and i will take it down.