How To Do It:
1. If the plug on the old cord is good and you plan to use it, remove it from the old cord.
2. Measure and cut a new lamp cord equal to the length of the cord within the lamp, plus 6 feet.
3. Pass one end of the new cord through the center of the plug. Strip 2 inches of the fabric insulation off cord, or in case of a rubber cord, split cord back two inches. Be sure no bare wire shows in long split section (Figure 1).
4. Use knife to strip insulation off wire for 3/4" on end of each cord. Be careful. Don't cut yourself. Don't cut wires. Use a light touch, slope the knifeblade and slice with knife edge away from you (Figure 1).
Figure 1 (Ready to Wire Plug)
5. Twist exposed strands of each wire tightly to make a good conductor, and place each conductor around its proper terminal in the direction in which the screw tightens (Figure 2).
6. Tighten screws on terminal posts. Pull cord until slack is out. Lay aside until ready to attach to lamp.
Figure 2 (Attaching Cord to Plug)
7. Remove lamp shade, shade-holder, bulb, and diffusing bowl, if there is one.
8. Separate the metal shell of socket from its cap by pressing on shell at place marked "press," and pull socket from cap.
9. Pull on socket body to get some slack in lamp cord. Loosen screws and detach cord. Pull cord out through base of lamp. You can splice new cord to the old one and use the latter to "string" the new wire.
10. Pass the new cord up through the lamp base and socket cap, tie a simple half-hitch knot in the cord to prevent strain on the terminals, and attach wires to the terminals on the socket (Figure 3). If there is likely to be any strain on cord, use an Underwriters' knot. Twist strands and attach wire in direction in which screw tightens.
11. Pull slack out of cord in lamp so that socket rests in socket cap, replace shell and reconnect cap. Be sure the fiber insulator is in the shell. You'll feel or hear a click when the notches in shell are locked to the projections in the cap.
12. Replace bulb, inspect carefully, and test. (In floor lamps where the cord runs through the center post and out under the base, the cord will last longer if it is fastened with tape so it doesn't rub edge of lamp base when lamp is moved.)
13. If the lamp has a porcelain socket, simply disconnect the wires at the terminals, remove the old wire and connect the new one.
Figure 3 (Socket and Switch Assembly)