Alternatives to serious readers

[alicat]

I would like to buy my elderly father a good reading light for Christmas - a floor lamp that will let him read the paper or do a jigsaw at the table without straining his eyes.

I am baulking at the 'serious reader' prices. Can anyone suggest an alternative or are serious readers really that good?

Thanks in advance.

 

[furball]

Had to Google serious reader.
Amazon and Argos do lamps with an uplighter a second light on a bendy arm that can be moved closer to the user. They tend to be called mother and daughter or some other family combination light. You could also consider a lamp that clips onto the table/worksurface.
Whatever you get check out the cost of replacement bulbs before you buy.

 

[stephec]

I got a daylight lamp in Hobbycraft a while ago, half price for £30.00.

It does throw out a decent amount of light.

 

[HertzvanRental]

Both myself and Mrs v R have used Mother and daughter lamps for many years and find them more than adequate.

 

[swee'pea99]

Surely all you need is a lamp with an adjustable head, then stick a bright lo-energy lamp in it? Used to be tricky, because high wattage lamps threw out enough heat to cause problems with shades and fittings, but I would have thought LEDs and other lo-energy options have solved that problem completely.

 

[LCpl Boiled Egg]

I got an Aglaia reading light from Amazon, less than 20 quid. It clamps on to a speaker stand near my sofa, has three light levels and has an adjustable gooseneck so you can point it at things.

 

[alicat]

Thanks all. I'll check out the suggestions. A daylight lamp or an Aglaia reading light could be the way forward.

 

[Hugh Manatee]

I got a daylight lamp in Hobbycraft a while ago, half price for £30.00.

It does throw out a decent amount of light.

I use one of their daylight bulbs in a cheap Machine Mart light and it is very good. It makes fly tying a lot easier and they are pretty fiddly.

 

[alicat]

Oh fly tying! I was wondering what fly typing was.... Perhaps I should get a better light for me too.

 

[annedonnelly]

Not a separate light, but I recently had to change a bulb in my overhead lights. The new energy efficient bulb - from Wilkinsons - gives a much whiter light than the old one. It's turned out to be as good for sewing as the daylight bulb in the expensive lamp I bought.

So perhaps you can get a reasonably priced lamp and change the bulb.

 

[alicat]

So perhaps you can get a reasonably priced lamp and change the bulb.

Yes, that could work. A whitish focussed bulb in an ordinary stand could do it.

 

[jefmcg]

So perhaps you can get a reasonably priced lamp and change the bulb.

This seems a great idea. Note that there are at least two different sizes of screw fittings, and two different sizes of bayonet fittings, so make sure the lamp you buy is compatible with the bulb you choose. I'd pick the bulb first, and then find a matching lamp.