Wierd lighting question

[minniecarousel]

My Mom has a bedside lamp that doesn't have an on/off switch. You're supposed to be able to merely touch the metal trim to turn the main light on, the "nightlight" in the base on & then touch again to turn the light off. The lightbulb burned out. I've not been able to find the exact same bulb. Every bulb that I've tried doesn't turn off with a touch of the metal frame.

Can anyone tell me what we're doing wrong? Why won't the light turn off the way it did before?

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

This explains how touch lamps work.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question42.htm

Are you using a standard replacement bulb or 3-way?

 

[3boymthr]

The problem may not be the bulb but the lamp. I've had several of them and after awhile the touch function burns out. DH usually solves the problem by putting and inline switch in the cord.

 

[minniecarousel]

This explains how touch lamps work.

http://science.howstuffworks.com/question42.htm

Are you using a standard replacement bulb or 3-way?

I found that link too. Good explanation. I can't find the exact same bulb. The burned-out bulb is a 40 wt bulb that looks like the chandelier-type flame bulb, but without the bent tip.

I'm thinking that it's just time to get a new lamp. Lamps Plus has the same lamp for less than $30. (Mom' has a clock in the base, this new one doesn't. But the woman collects clocks, so she really doesn't need one in her lamp too!)

Thanks to all for the input.