Adjustable-Arm Desk Lamps

Perhaps Pixar Animation's sweet sidekick, "Luxo Jr.," (the hopping adjustable arm lamp featured in the company's first short film) inspired you to get a sensible sidekick of your own. Or maybe you're tired of straining your eyes to see just where that buttonhole meets that thread. Whatever the case may be, adjustable-arm desk lamps are fun, fashionable, and fully capable of helping you to get the job done.

Fashion Is Function - Swing-Arm Lamps
One of the earliest adjustable-arm desk lamps was invented by British automotive engineer George Carwardine in 1932. This design, called the Anglepoise lamp, has remained relatively unchanged and has provided a template for many contemporary adjustable-arm lamp designs.

Carwardine based the construction on the human arm. This included an intricate system of counter springs so the lamp could be positioned and stay put in a variety of angles. Another adjustable-arm desk lamp made design history in Norway around the same time. The Luxo, created by Jac Jacobsen, hit the market in 1937, and is still manufactured today. This style is a great choice for those who need mobility. It is also available with a clip-on base to maximize desktop space.

Hinged and Gooseneck Styles
If the swing-arm desk lamp offers mobility, then the gooseneck desk lamp offers gymnastic possibilities. The gooseneck lamp, first popular in the '40s, has come into its own recently as designers from Adesso and Kichler create contemporary lamps in everything from brushed chrome to bronze. Hinged adjustable lamps, the forefather of adjustable-arm desk lamps, offers classic style while featuring updates like dataports and MP3 player ports.

When researching the right desk lamp for your home, consider the adjustable-arm desk lamp. These styles meld form with extreme functionality, allowing you to achieve the most from your task lighting choice.