Shannon Lamp Service, Inc., Lexington, KY

"UNO"

The most misunderstood item in the lamp shade industry may very well be the Uno fitter.

We get request for Uno fitter shades for many wrong uses. We will try to explain the fitter as we understand it!

"Uno" refers to the threading that is on the outside of some brass shelled lamp sockets. The Uno threads were on almost all of the older sockets, but as time has past, some manufacturers have removed the threads. The picture below shows a Uno threaded socket next to a plain (Non-Uno) socket.

The following information pertains to our lamp shades. Uno sockets may also be used to hang glass shades and other applications. The uno fitter that we offer is made to screw onto the threaded end of a metal lamp socket. The picture below shows a close-up of the fitter. Notice that there are threads on the inside of the fitter. These are the threads that screw onto the Uno threaded brass lamp socket also shown.

Many of the new imported lamps are designed to use a lamp shade with a fitter that looks like a "Uno" fitter, but it does not have threads (see diagram below). The traditional Uno fitter that we offer will not fit on those lamps. Or, if you have a lamp with any form of a Bakelite socket (see picture), the Uno fitter will Not work.

This uno fitter is designed to attach a lamp shade to a hanging metal socket, normally on a bridge floor lamp. The pictures below are good examples of a Uno fitter mounted on a bridge floor lamp.

It is quite common to have a bridge floor lamp that has had its original Uno threaded socket replaced with a socket that does not have the Uno threads. In order to mount the Uno lamp shade correctly, the socket must be replaced. This is a simple project and we do offer the Leviton brand, solid brass Uno threaded lamp sockets as pictured below.
The socket sells for $8.50

We also still make an authentic Oil Rubbed Parchment Shade. We offer both dark and light. The dark is shown below on a bridge lamp with a Uno fitter. Parchment shades are ideal for a true antique look. Another advantage to Parchment Shades is they are EASY to clean.