Lamps and Lights customer Mike Wyn Davies, proprietor of Unique Trophies from Wales sent us this fab story of his journey upcycling an old battered brass trumpet, found lying around in his attic for years, into a stunningly unique table lamp. Here’s Mike’s story…

The plan was to mount the trumpet vertically on a hardwood base, this meant that 3 core cable had to be fed through the trumpet from the bell, through the three valves, around the pipes and up through the pipe holding the mouthpiece.
Feeding the three core cable though the trumpet was the biggest challenge as cable is flexible and it just kept doubling up on itself inside the trumpet.

A fine steel wire was used to feed through the trumpet, but the three valves still posed a problem. This was solved by removing and cutting them down, so that the wire did not have to go through them.

After successfully feeding the steel wire through the trumpet, the three core cable was warmed up in an oven to 70°C for 30 minutes and then secured to the end of the wire. Silicone spray was used down the pipes and on the cable to lubricate it.
It took some effort to pull the cable through, but it was completed successfully.

The photo shows the cable running through the three valve housings.

The base was cut from a hardwood kitchen worktop off cut using a band saw, and a router was used to give a bevel edge. The base was sanded and stained using a solvent based walnut stain, and finished with four coats of acrylic varnish. (Alternatively you could use a Lamps and Lights ready-turned and sanded hardwood Pattress).

Brass lamp holder with shade rings

Brass lamp holder with shade rings

A cork was used to seal inside the battered bell of the trumpet. Silicone spray was used as a mould release. This end was then filled with a fast setting modelling plaster. When set, it was removed and then this was used as a template and former to produce a close fitting wood cone on a lathe to fit into the trumpet bell to attach it to the hardwood base. The cone was screwed and glued to the wood base and drilled to take the three core electric flex. The trumpet was then secured to the cone using a silicone adhesive.
I used a 10mm Brass BC Lamp Holder with shade Rings. I modified the 10mm reducer and soldered into the end of the trumpet where the mouthpiece fits.

The photo on the right shows what lies hidden underneath the shade; the brass lamp holder with shade rings, shade carrier, light bulb and lampshade.

This lamp looks very effective and has proved to be quite a conversation piece. Using a very battered old trumpet that was going to be thrown out has now been recycled. With a matching shade, I think you’ll agree it makes a unique and attractive table lamp.

Spotted at an Antiques Flea Market, this is another take on using a brass instrument converted into an unusual lamp. Musical instruments can form the basis of very unique and high quality lighting and lamp projects”.
Mike Wyn Davies
www.uniquetrophies.co.uk

Thank you Mike, this shows there’s so much you can upcycle to create a stunning lamp!