I'm fascinated by hula motion lamps, similar to the lamps seen in 'Blue Hawaii' with Elvis Presley, and 'Lilo & Stitch', the animated Disney movie. The originals from the 1930s and 40s were in spelter, also known as white metal, usually with a bronze metal surface finish. I'd like to create a replica, preferably in cast bronze, but I can't find many details on the interior mechanics that created the hula motion.
Buying a lamp for research purposes is not an option. Vintage Dodge lamps run several hundred dollars, while affordable modern versions are clearly using a different mechanism producing an inferior looking motion. Charles Moore of Hula Lamps of Hawaii builds beautiful recreations of the vintage models, but his lamps start at over a thousand dollars.
I've identified the motor and found a modern counterpart, but I don't know how the motion was transferred from the motor to the hip rotors that move the skirt. Also, the body separates into two pieces at the hip rotors and I don't know how those pieces joined together.
Is there anyone out there who could provide some details? Closeup photos of the mechanism and of the body joint would be a huge help.
Buying a lamp for research purposes is not an option. Vintage Dodge lamps run several hundred dollars, while affordable modern versions are clearly using a different mechanism producing an inferior looking motion. Charles Moore of Hula Lamps of Hawaii builds beautiful recreations of the vintage models, but his lamps start at over a thousand dollars.
I've identified the motor and found a modern counterpart, but I don't know how the motion was transferred from the motor to the hip rotors that move the skirt. Also, the body separates into two pieces at the hip rotors and I don't know how those pieces joined together.
Is there anyone out there who could provide some details? Closeup photos of the mechanism and of the body joint would be a huge help.
