Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

Boughtt this lamp last weekend at Blick in Atlanta. Out of the box and onto a table and five minutes later the screw breaks off that holds the longest arm on. After rigging some clamps to maintain the height, the shade constantly droops because it is too heavy for the spring action. THEN, while rigging again with clamps ( I REALLY tried to make this work) the ring bulb blows after maybe one hour of being on. WASTE. OF. MONEY. Poorly designed and poor quality.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I felt I owed it to Dick Blick to update my review of this lamp. After I wrote my first review I was contacted by their customer support and offered either a replacement lamp or my money back. I opted for the replacement. I'd used this lamp for six months already, so I felt that they were going way beyond the usual level of customer service.

This replacement lamp has a plastic starter, which I was easily able to remove and replace. The lamp worked perfectly, but since I was a little afraid of the high heat of the incandescent bulb so near the plastic starter, I replaced the bulb with a cooler alternative bulb. It's been working very well for me since last July and I'm very pleased with it. I'm even more pleased with the Dick Blick company and wouldn't hesitate to order any item from them.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I needed to replace this lamp after the flourescent stopped working, so I went to another art store in the area, confirmed that their lamps had metal starters, and purchased one for about the same price I paid at Blick. Now the interesting part: Both lamps are made by APCO. The one from Blick is model LC539 and the other one is model LC540, but according to the APCO website the only difference in the LC540 is that there's a power outlet in the base. Other than that the two lamps *should* be the same.

This is a really excellent lamp other than the bad starter; if you get one home and find it has a plastic starter I suggest you take it back and request a replacement. Here's the APCO site describing the lamps: http://www.affordaproducts.com/combo.htm

Again - it would be nice to see a comment from Blick, maybe they can check their inventory to see what they have.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I had the same experience as Crafting In The Dark did. After less than a year of use, the plastic starter for the fluorescent bulb disintegrated (!) and can't be replaced. Without the fluorescent this is an extremely overpriced desk lamp -- and frankly the daylight fluorescent bulb is the whole point of the lamp, since it provides great white balance.

I've had a similar lamp for over 20 years and it still works like a champ with the metal starter.

I didn't see a reply to this issue from Blick, I'd like to know if this lamp has any kind of a warranty - I don't have my original receipt, but it might help others to know.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

i HAD A SIMILAR LAMP FOR 16 YEARS AND I LOOKED ALL OVER THE INTERNET FOR A REPLACEMENT.....FOUND IT AT DICK BLICK.COM
I JUST LOVE THE OPTION OF ONLY USING THE FLORESCENT BULB, OR FOR MAXIMUM LIGHT BOTH BULBS....

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I bought the lamp in December of 2009. On June 1, 2010 the flourescent part of the lamp stopped working. The heat from the incandescent bulb apparently fried the starter for the flourescent bulb. The casing of the starter crumbled to pieces and it can't be removed from the lamp.

Since the inner ring that holds the bulbs is riveted rather than screwed into place, I can't take it apart to access the piece that holds the starter to repair or replace it. I can't run the flourescent light without a starter, and the incandescent bulb is too hot to run with the remains of the starter still stuck in the lamp, so the lamp is useless.

I didn't use the incandescent bulb as much as the flourescent, which I believe slowed down the destruction of the starter.

My son has a very similar light, but his starter has a metal casing and his light has worked for a couple of years without a problem. The light is very bright, and that's just what I needed.

My lamp came with a Sylvania bulb and a Sylvania starter which had a plastic case, and a 100 watt bulb. I used it as intended, just as it shipped to me. The bulbs and the starter were all factory installed.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I have a slanted drawing board and I cannot keep the lamp in position. It ends up slowly slipping down so that the lamp shade is in front of my face. See similar comment on this page. Now both bulbs have gone out after very little use. When I removed the flourescent bulb to put in the replacement, there is a fuse to one side and the casing actually crumbled to pieces. There are no instructions as to how to remove this fuse or where I would order it from. No company name on lamp. Now I am stuck. Yikes!

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I am keeping the lamp ONLY because the light is good, but everything else is really very bad.

I use it on my drawing which is slanted at a 20 degree angle, rather shallow really, and this lamp is incapable of holding its position no matter where I try to place it.

I have resorted to using strings with slip knots and paper clips to make it useable.

Its only saving feature is the light it puts out which is very good. But I would never buy this brand again.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

Not all clamps for swing arm lamps are equal. While I didn't want the overkill of the dual lamp, I am thrilled that the clamp lets me put my ordinary swing arm lights wherever I wish. Light is good. Lights that don't threaten to tip and fall are VERY good.

Comments about APCO Flexible Combo Lamp:

I have two of these lamps, one for my desk in my office and one for my art studio. This lamp provides excellent lighting. I would highly recommend this lamp.