Brackets may be constructed after the plan shown in Figure 291. A wooden socket or a pin-socket is mounted on the end of a small piece of brass tubing which has been bent into the shape shown in the illustration. The other end of the tube is set into a wooden block so that the bracket may be mounted on the wall. The wires from the socket lead through the brass tube and through the back or top of the block.
Fig. 291.—A Home-made Bracket.
Hanging lights may be arranged by fitting a wooden socket and a lamp with a reflector as shown in Figure 296. The reflector consists of a circular piece of tin or sheet-aluminum having a hole in the center large enough to pass the base of a miniature lamp. The circle is then cut along a straight line from the circumference to the center. If the edges are pulled together and lapped the circular sheet of metal will take on a concave shape and form a shade or reflector which will throw the light downwards. The overlapping edges of the reflector should be soldered or riveted together. The reflector is slipped over the base of the lamp, a small rubber or felt washer having been placed over the base next to the glass bulb so that the reflector will not break the lamp. The lamp is then screwed into a socket and allowed to hang downwards from a flexible conductor.
Fig. 292.—A Hanging Lamp.
A very pretty effect can be secured by drilling the edges of a reflector full of small holes about three-sixteenths of an inch apart and then hanging short strings of beads from the holes. The beads should form a hanging fringe around the edge of the reflector, and if they are of glass, a pleasing brilliancy is produced. Figure 293 shows how to make the reflector.
Fig. 293.—How the Reflector is made.
The batteries for a miniature lighting plant may be located in a closet, under a stairway, or in some other out-of-the-way place. Wires from there may be extended to various parts of the house, such as hallways, closets, the cellar stairs, over a shaving-mirror in the bath-room or in any dark corner where a light is often temporarily needed. The wires can be run behind picture-mouldings or along the surbase and be almost entirely concealed.