I had heard about this since I'm in the area, but I'm flying back to Alaska on the 5th 

Would you be fine getting other clear 1000W H36 mercury vapor lamps? I have seen a few GE HR1000A36 lamps priced at $50USD a piece on replacementlightbulbs.com

Looking for one of these for a reasonable price, ideally unused

Thanks, Maxim

Good luck, Robert. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Something "modern" in my experience but there's a small chance they are antique. These are copies of Westinghouse ornamental fixtures, but I don't know how old or manufacturer. GEs have a much different canopy.

I would love to return it for sure! But I got the lamp with a special discount as the son of the owner from the store sold it to me at the back of the store, and I think it was the only one left. It only costed me 10 dollars, so ... maybe I can repair it as stated? I will try later on, but for now I think I will look for a new one too which might be sold not too far off from that store.

I will not be able to make it due that I have hip surgery coming up.  Sorry, John.

Position the contact correctly and solder some solid wire between it and the screw shell to hold it like that while you are working on it. Stuff some high temp & non conductive cement into the hole (but not enough to get to the lamp stem tube inside), shape it and let it dry

Not a big deal. I personally just would solder a length of soft silicone wire to the base contact to run the lamp, in the case it is somewhat valuable.

This has nothing to do with UV exposure, just learn how lamp stem and base are made using something disposable like a regular incandescent lamp.

The lamp obviously is used but looks to be still in workable condition. It all depends on the price paid, of course. If paid $100 for this, I of course will feel cheated, on the other hand something like $10 may be well OK.