Post #516228 by TorchGuy on Wed, Mar 10, 2010 6:49 AM

Not much can go wrong with that socket. Not much at all. Try this: Put a screwdriver in, and bend the center tab up slightly. No contact with the bulb is a common problem.

Thing is, the wires connect to the metal tabs on the bottom. Each should be connected directly to the screw contact and tab contact in the socket. Nothing to foul up there, unless the solder link from one tab to its contact has broken, in which case you may be able to pull off the bottom tab easily because the link is broken and prove it. There are no wires, connections or electronics in there to get out of order. The only possibility within the socket is that the connection has been broken in the tiny distance between tab and contact.

Unless the contact has been broken, it can only be the cord; did you try a brand new cord AND brand new bulb? Not to sound like I'm calling you stupid, but I collect vintage lighting, and I've tried three burnt-out bulbs in a row; I also used to have a bad cord that kept finding its way back into my cords bin, and I'd occasionally put it on something and scratch my head, before noticing it was the only cord with a plug like that and I'd seen it before. (I eventually cut it to bits)