Apartment dining light fixture-most basic of basic. Bulb screwed into socket. Socket nestled inside white ceramic cap. Two wires, one black one white are “riveted” to top of ceramic cap. The last one inch of these two wires are sleeved in a tannish material. Next we have a metal bracket which looks like one end should be, but isnt, screwed into a slot on top of the ceramic cap. A green wire is riveted to this bracket. The other end of the bracket is used to hold a tin collar off of the ceramic cap by an inch. This tin collar fits inside the 4inch opening of the glass globe so that the globe hangs from it. Next we have a white plate that slides down over the opening of the glass globe “sealing” the opening, so to speak. The white rubber tube covering the black, white, and green wires starts at this point and disappears into the ceiling thru another white plate that screws into the ceiling by a screw on either side of the center hole of the plate, “sealing” the opening in the plaster, so to speak. Light is turned on and off by single switch on the wall. I want to replace the two white plates with brass ones I have purchased. Easiest for me would be to clip all wires at the bottom of the white rubber tube, replace plates, and then rewire a new ceramic cap-but is that possible since its riveted not screwed? I do recall Dad shortening the length of the fixture and I know tucked in the ceiling are the electrical twist caps connecting the hard wiring to the fixture, but the whole plaster/ceiling support is precarious and I would like to avoid messing with that end?
Discussion Forum
Discussion Forum
Up Next
Video Shorts
Featured Story

Join some of the most experienced and recognized building professionals for two days of presentations, panel discussions, networking, and more.
Featured Video
SawStop's Portable Tablesaw is Bigger and Better Than BeforeHighlights
Fine Homebuilding Magazine
- Home Group
- Antique Trader
- Arts & Crafts Homes
- Bank Note Reporter
- Cabin Life
- Cuisine at Home
- Fine Gardening
- Fine Woodworking
- Green Building Advisor
- Garden Gate
- Horticulture
- Keep Craft Alive
- Log Home Living
- Military Trader/Vehicles
- Numismatic News
- Numismaster
- Old Cars Weekly
- Old House Journal
- Period Homes
- Popular Woodworking
- Script
- ShopNotes
- Sports Collectors Digest
- Threads
- Timber Home Living
- Traditional Building
- Woodsmith
- World Coin News
- Writer's Digest
Replies
Nah, you really should take the fixture down to make this change.