Reading in Bed without Eye Strain
Written: Jan 09 '05 (Updated Jan 09 '05)
|
Product Rating:
|
|
|
Pros: View colors as if in sunlight – bulb lasts 10,000 hours, reduces eye strain
Cons: Base is a bit tippy; expensive product – buy it on sale
The Bottom Line: It’s easy to read, do puzzles and even hand embroider using this Ott light. And the Bottom Line looks almost ethereal bathed in the soft lamp glow.
|
|
|
| dlstewart's Full Review: Ott True Color 13-Watt Lexington Bedside-Desk Lamp... |
I have had the same bedside lamp for about twenty years. It’s done well, but it was time for a change. Since I’ve had such good luck with my Ott Flex-Arm Plus Lamp, I decided to buy another Ott product ... the Ott True Color 13-Watt Lexington Bedside / Desk Lamp. I purchased Model # 713S22, the Mocha Pearl color.
Description
This is a contemporary looking metal lamp with its deep bronze color and marbleized glass lamp shade. It has two adjustments: one to customize the height from 17 3/4" to 23" tall, and another adjustment that tilts the lamp head vertically 180-degrees.
The gently sloping round base measures 7 1/2" in diameter. An upright 14" pole is mounted to the base, and a second 14" pole (the pole holding the lamp head) is affixed to the other pole by a collar that allows the lamp-head pole to slide up and down. This is how the lamp is adjusted for height. A large decorative wing nut is unscrewed to loosen the connection between the two poles. No tools are necessary; the wing nut is easy to screw and unscrew using one’s fingers. Once loosened, the upper pole containing the lamp head is easy to slide to the desired height.
The lampshade is made from a heavy glass that has a marbleized appearance. Most of the lampshade is a nice marbled white and has a few light to medium brown splotches through it to add to the marbleized appearance. The shade is 5 1/2" long and the diameter of the opening measures 6 3/8".
This lamp uses a 13-watt Ott-lite True Color Tube lightbulb. The lightbulb has a unique appearance; the bulb is about 2 1/2" long and the glass is fashioned in a decorative twist. One of these bulbs is included with the lamp. It comes in a cardboard box and must be plugged into the socket. When the lightbulb is installed, it is recessed into the shade. The manufacturer states that these lightbulbs last up to 10,000 hours (they are equivalent to 75 watt incandescent lightbulbs).
Another wing nut is located behind the head of the lamp. This nut is unscrewed to adjust the angle of the lampshade. The shade can only be moved up and down (not side to side). There are toothed grooves that separate when the wing nut is unscrewed, allowing the lamp head to be adjusted. Tighten the wing nut, and the grooves mesh together again, locking the lamp head in position.
The electrical cord is 5' (60") long. If the lamp is adjusted to its full 23" height, the cord shortens by 5". There is an on/off switch located near the top of the cord. The adapter has a polarized plug (one prong is wider than the other), and the adapter measures 2 1/2" x 2" x 2" deep when plugged in.
This lamp comes in two color styles. I bought the Mocha Pearl (Model # 713S22). The lamp is also available in Antique Nickle (Model # 713Y22). The Mocha Pearl is a darker color than the Antique Nickle. Other than the color, both styles are the same.
Assembly
The Ott True Color 13-Watt Lexington Bedside / Desk Lamp comes well packaged in a cardboard carton. The lampshade is in its own cardboard box as is the lightbulb. Instructions with a diagram are included. The instructions are only written in English.
Essentially, there are only two parts to assemble on this lamp. The lampshade needs to be screwed in place. There are three screws that can be twisted with the fingers. I found the best way to attach the lampshade is to insert it, then give each of the three screws a few twists. The screws had to be evenly twisted a bit at a time so that the lampshade attached evenly. Once the lampshade is in place, plug in the lightbulb. Assembly is finished.
My Experiences
I loved the look of this light the moment I saw it. The lines are clean, and the design doesn’t block one’s view of the things behind and around it. The widest pieces of the lamp are the base and lampshade. This lamp looks great sitting beside the bed.
The lamp is easy to adjust, too. Just twist the wing nuts to reposition the lamp’s height or the angle of the lampshade. It took me a few adjustments to achieve the perfect height and angle for my needs.
Even though the base is weighted and wide at 7 1/2" in diameter, the lampshade is large and heavy, which creates a slight imbalance. This is my one misgiving regarding this light. I have tried adjusting the light to its lowest height as well as its highest height, and still find that the base very slightly rocks if a bit of pressure is applied to the lamp stem. My feeling is that the shade is a bit too heavy for the lamp design.
I’ve experimented by pulling a bit on the electrical cord where the light switch is located. The lamp is solid, not moving. Since the lamp did not move, this reassured me that the lamp wouldn’t topple over onto me during the night. However, there are also pets in the house. I worry that one of them might brush against the light causing it to tip, but so far none of the animals are interested in that area of the room.
On my list of future sewing projects is to create a tube of fabric that I will fill with weighted pellets. Using a decorative fabric, this will look okay coiled on the lamp base, adding a bit more weight to reduce the bit of tipping. Hmmm .... maybe I worry too much.
Other than that one concern, this lamp provides terrific reading and craft light. I am amazed at the no-glare light provided by the Ott lightbulb. It makes reading a pleasure. The other night I looked at the wall bathed in the glow from the Ott lamp, and I would have sworn it was the soft glow of early daylight.
Not only do I use the light to read and do crossword puzzles, but I have also used it while I do hand embroidery. I enjoy crazy-quilting, which requires the quilt blocks to be heavily embellished with embroidery, beads, lace and other decorative bits. I find this light allows me to see the true colors of my embroidery threads. And less glare means that I can work longer without tiring my eyes.
What makes an Ott light special?
Ott lights bring the effects of natural sunlight indoors without the heat or glare. It allows the user to see colors more clearly and also reveals more detail than traditional lighting allows. Ott lights are easier on the eyes, too, as well as being more energy efficient. The carton that my Ott light came in says that the illuminating quality of these lights is constructed from a blend of rare earth phosphors.
Purchasing
I used a 50% off coupon at A.C. Moore to purchase this lamp. The light retails for $179.95. A.C. More had a price of $169.99, and I paid $84.99.
Joann Fabrics (www.joann.com) offers both styles of this lamp for $179.99. However, Joann’s often runs sales, making this lamp less expensive. Joann’s also sells the 13-watt replacement lightbulbs for $24.99 (often $19.99 on sale).
Summary
Even though I still have a few niggling reservations about the tippy base, I love my Ott True Color 13-Watt Lexington Bedside / Desk Lamp. This lamp light is easy on the eyes, providing a non-glare light that also allows me to view colors as they truly look. This Ott light is also a lovely table accent.
I hope you have found this review useful.
Enjoy your day,
Dawn
http://dlstewart.com
Additional Information
Model # 713S22
Takes Replacement Bulb # T135Z5
13 watt / 5300-5500 Kelvin / 95 CRI
Ott-Lite Technology
1214 West Cass Street
Tampa, FL 33606
Toll-free Customer Service Phone: 800-842-8848
One-year Warranty
Please read my other reviews:
Ott 18-Watt True Color Flex-Arm Plus Lamp
Ott 18-Watt True Color Floor Lamp
Belkin Emergency UPS Battery Backup
Quilt Pro Software
Olfa 28mm Rotary Cutter
Olfa Rotary Cutter Replacement Wheels – All Sizes
Olfa Fabric and Pattern Weights
Olfa Organizer with Mini Weights
Quilter’s Dream Sewing Table
Horn of America Sewing Chair
Janome Jem Sewing Machine
Joann .com Fabric & Craft Store
Copyright 2005 Dawn L. Stewart
Recommended:
Yes
|
|
|
|
|
- Add to My Yahoo!: 
- Add to Google Homepage: 
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.