Seconded, there's only so much you as the average person can do and this topic has already been discussed to the point where it feels like beating on a dead horse.

Agreed, let's concentrate on the positive things, shall we 

I'm worried that future collectors may be faced with the issue of trying to find old lamps and fixtures at affordable prices. We all know what happened with SOX and it's only a matter of time until other lamp types meet the same fate. The fact that so many places are banning old technology doesn't help either.

Seems I've seen a few of these rants on here today. .lol.

As for me, myself I'm not worried about having lights: even if I suddenly walked into every store around to find not a single fluorescent in sight.
The simple fact is...I'm old. And with that I have more than a lifetime's supply of lamps, even if I was just to leave random lights on 24/7.

Anymore I could honestly really care less what type of light someone else lights their house or business with. I'll stick to my fluorescents & incandescents. they can use whatever. .lol.lol.

I feel exactly the same way and I just stick with my incandescents and fluorescents.
I do what I want and don't bend to anyone else's standards.

I really don't think that such a situation of doom will ever arise, because there is a thing called the Antiques Business.  All kinds of products that were discontinued even a century ago and which were produced in considerably lower volumes than electric lamps are are still readily available today, via a multitude of specialists, shops, auction houses and other outlets.  Moreover, as the world becomes more widely digitised, antique items are becoming easier to find thanks to the internet that makes it easier for buyers and sellers to locate each other.  Years ago I waited decades to find my first example of rarities like an SO/H sodium lamp or the GE electronic Halarc - but now it seems they are turning up with ever-increasing frequency.

The only thing that might change in the short term is that prices for older lamps could rise during a transition period when ordinary consumers still want to buy older lamps to use them in service, and compete with collectors.  But after that period a time always comes when practically no consumers exist and the few specialised collectors are the only people willing to buy such articles - and due to their limited numbers the supply outstrips the demand and prices then fall again.  In Europe we have already passed through this period for ordinary incandescent lamps.  Soon after the bans many consumers really did not want to change and were paying ten times the normal prices as stocks dwindled.  Now there are so few real consumers left that prices have dropped so low that it is often difficult to find any customers at all.  Based on this evidence I prefer to look on the bright side, and really do believe that there is a long and healthy future for lamp collectors!

Agreed on all points James!

To Hell with the doom and gloom topics!

I'm just enjoying the good stuff posted here and what I'm managing to collect.

Cheers to the old days!

Absolutely, Jamie, that's the best attitude to take. We don't really care if other people want to make fun of our collections or not. We also collect electrical and electronic test equipment; not because we need it, but because we want it; we're interested in how it works and the reasons why certain tests are necessary. If other people don't get that, then it's their problem, not ours.

Nothing wrong with collecting test equipment not at all Ria.
It's rather fascinating subject.
But what I've always appreciated about you is that you choose to run your lamps on the proper gear and nothing else with no compromises.
That's a true professional in my opinion.

Awww, coming from a professional that is praise indeed 

I've always felt that if you're going to do something then it should be done properly. Don't get me wrong, it's ok to experiment, if people didn't then we'd never learn anything, but when it comes to lamps then that work has already been done and I don't see the need to repeat it, especially if it's a rare lamp that would be difficult or impossible to replace if damaged.

Considering the frequency I find rare lamps in abandoned nooks and cranies, garage sales and restores. I'm not too worried about it. Even with a large portion of my burner lamps being stolen I still can most likely rebound before stuff gets "rare".

It's actually seemingly easier to find mercury lamps that ceased being manufacturered in the 70's than it is the freaking ordinary sodium lamp.