It can happen in the blink of an eye, the lamp tips over and the glass shade breaks. You don’t have to get a new lamp, getting a replacement shade is relatively easy. This is true for most modern bankers lamps, but you can actually get a replacement shade for original Emeralite lamps too.
If you need help, I suggest reading my guide on how to replace the glass on your banker’s lamp.
Replacement shade size
Dimensions of replacement glass for a banker’s lamp, can vary depending on the specific lamp model. It’s important to measure the original glass shade or consult the manufacturer’s specifications to ensure the proper fit.
Generally, most lamps have a lampshade with these dimensions:
Width: 8.86 inches – 22,50 cm
Depth: 5.12 inches – 13 cm
Height: 2.95 inches – 7,5 cm
Diameter of side holes: 0.47 inches – 1,2 cm
Common bankers lamp shades
Getting replacement shade for the banker’s lamps produced and sold today is relatively easy. There are several online retailers offering them and you get them in all of the popular colors. The easiest is to get one here from Amazon as you’ll have all the necessary return policies and customer satisfaction guarantees in place. To make it easier for you, I made a table with the possible selections below. I can also suggest that you purchase high-quality glass at the Italian store specializing in vintage lighting www.illuminazionedepoca.com.
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Best Choice
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|---|---|---|---|
| Product dimensions | Long 8.8 inch, Width 5.3 inch, Height 3 inch | 8.85 in L, 5.11 in W, 2.95 in H or “5.9 IN ” L “3.7IN” W | 5.31″W x 2.36″H |
| Available colors | Green | Green or White | Green, Blue, Amber or White |
| Reviews | Few | One hundred | More than 1,000 |
The most popular are the standard green ones, but If you are looking for something edgy, you might go with the blue colored shade. If neither blue nor green is your color, you can also get them in white or the slightly more colorful amber shade.
The most trusted options are the shades from Newrays and Upgradelights. these companies have the longest track record of satisfied customers. Keep in mind that the shades from Upgradelights are a bit wider, so make sure to measure before buying. You can click the links in the in the table above to head over to Amazon. Here you can read through the many reviews of satisfied customers and compare their price.
If you want a shade of the highest quality, I recommend this company Italiana: Illuminazione d’Epoca.
Emeralite shades
If you are unlucky enough to break an Emeralite shade, you just lost broke a $200 piece of glass. This is roughly the price of an original Emeralite glass shade if you can find one that’s for sale.
Earlier models of the Emeralite had the shade attached through holes in the sides (4378 series). However, the vast majority of Emeralites you can get your hands on today have the shade fitted on along the back end of the shade where the glass is curved inwards (8734 series).
Getting a replacement shade for one of these lamps is a bit tricky, and you are left with 2 options. You can look for an original shade for sale. You might encounter original shades for sale here on eBay, however, they can be few and far between.
If you don’t have time to sit around waiting for one popping up on eBay, you can try to get a custom-made shade from a glassmaker making lampshades. I have found a company in St. Petersburg, Florida that sells custom-made Emeralite shades.
Before ordering, measure the old shade or the dimensions of your Emeralite and contact them to make sure you get a shade that fits. I’m currently trying to reach out to some other companies making glass lamp shades about whether they might be able to produce Emeralite shade reproductions. I will be sure to let you know if there’s any good news.
Replacing the shade
Although these shades should fit most bankers lamps, you should make sure it will fit your lamp. You can do this by measuring your old shade and compare it to the dimensions of the shades above. If you don’t have the old shade, measure the distance between the armature of the base which holds the shade.
The most important measure is the distance between the holes in the shade. You also want to measure the width (front to back). Together, this will determine whether the shade will fit or not.
Don’t worry if your measurement is off with 0.1-0.2 inches. You should be able to fit the shade by slightly bending the arms holding the shade. For more about how to actually replace the shade, you can read my full-length article about it. Here I list all the things you need as well as explain the whole process step-by-step.
Conclusion
There is no need to throw away your banker’s lamp if you are unlucky and break the glass shade. You can easily get a new one, and replacing the shade is not that hard.
Getting a new shade for an Emeralite or reproduction is a bit harder, but by no means impossible. Being able to restore it back to its former glory should be motivation enough.
I hope this guide helped you on your way in getting a new shade for your banker’s lamp. If you have any comments or other inquiries, please leave a comment in the comment section below.
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Hi Sean,
I have an 8734 A lamp and the shade and lamp socket are missing. Any Idea where I could get replacement parts ??
For the socket, you can get a cheap, beat-up emeralite skeleton and use it for any spare pars you might need. You can find them on eBay. Original shades are hard to get by, check out my article.
I have an old Emeralite No. 8734 AC in need of a new glass shade (which was broken 20 years ago in move, very sad). I am hoping to use it again as we set up work stations for my teenagers for e-learning during the pandemic. I have read your article and reader comments, which essentially say I would have to purchase a replacement on Ebay, if even available. Let me know if you have been able to locate a glass manufacturer who is able to make replacement glass shades. I appreciate your input. Thanks.
Hello Paul
Sad to hear about your lamp, if the rest is in good shape it surely deserves a new glass. Unfortunately, I have yet to find a manufacturer myself. Keep searching and let us know if you find anyone.
Best of luck
Sean
Hi Sean,
Looking for a turquoise bankers shade. I purchased the lamp 40 years back from Lee’s Art Shop on W 57th St and it was lined with what glass. Had to get a replacement 20 years ago from the lighting district downtown which it now gone due to Chinese imports and high rents. The shade was not as nice but at least it was the right color. Last 5 years have a crème colored one on the lamp now but still missing the original color. It’s the type with a hole on each side. Any ideas? Please keep me in mind if you come across one.
Many thanks,
Shane in NYC
Hello Shane
Interesting. Yes, the turquoise color resembles the original emeralite glass which is a lot prettier in my opinion. I have yet to come across replacement shades of the same color tho. I till keep you in mid
Sean
hi, sean. i broke my wife’s favorite lamp!! trying desperately to replace the shade. it’s emeraldite, yes, but not the ones you usually see (of course!). the bulb loads from the end, and the shade is more of a cover, a bit elongated. can you help me find one, please?
Hello David
It sounds like quite an emergency. Really hard to tell based on your description. If it is a normal emeralite glass shade that is difficult enough to replace in itself. If it an even rarer one, that is really unfortunate. If you could upload and image somewhere and place the link here so that I could have a look it would be really helpful.¨
Sean
Hi. I have a green duckbill shade that I want to replace. I believe it is an early Emeralite 4378 series. It is 8.63 wide midpoint on the threads. The glass is 8.25 wide between the interior holes, 5.38 deep and 3.5 tall. I would love to find a replacement and your ideas would be very helpful. Thanks! I can send photos if needed.
Hello Shawn
This replacement shade might be what you are looking for but make sure to check that the dimensions are correct
Best of luck
shades were made in France
Hi Sean,
Very helpful post. I am looking for a replacement shade for an Emeralite 8734 series. My housemate blundered around the house.
Where would you recommend purchasing from (apart from ebay)?
Thanks,
Olly
Hi there Olly
I’ve been searching around in order to try to find a place myself, as of now the only place I’ve found original ones are the occasional ones being listed on eBay, as for a custom made one (but not original), the only one I’ve found s far is the one place linked to in the article (but when checking it out now, it seems its out of stock). I’ve been trying to reach out to some potential candidates online whether they are able to make emeralite replacement shades, but so far no luck I’m afraid.
Good luck in you search, ill continue to try to find where you might get a hold of the shade you need.
Sean—very nice site. I am looking for a bankers lamp replacement green cased glass shade. It is for a really nice Stiffel bankers lamp that I purchased in 1985. The length (measured on the outside of the shade at the holes) is 8.25 inches. Do you have any that width? Most being sold on Amazon are about about 1/2 inch too long. I bought one anyway, forced it into place, and sure enough it broke. Thanks. Here is a link to a phot of the lamp and the shade: https://ebth-com-production.imgix.net/2015/09/14/10/15/40/366/CS1_3949.jpg?ixlib=rb-1.1.0&w=880&h=880&fit=crop&crop=&auto=format
Hello Randy
Sorry for taking some time before getting back to you. Sad to hear about your shade needing replacement. From the picture, it looks like your lamp has a duckbill shape which makes finding an exact match even harder. Sadly, as you mention, the shades on Amazon are wider (closer to 9 inches). I’ve tried to look around to see what I could find, but so far only the ones on Amazon, and a few on eBay that was closer to 7 inches wide, but unfortunately not of any help to you. Sorry that I couldn’t be of greater assistance Randy, I sincerely hope you eventually find one to get your lamp in order.
Sean
Hello Sean, I have an antique floor lamp that had a roughly 5 inch long frosted white banker style shade on it that I am trying to replace. Most bankers shades are much longer. Any suggestions?
Hello Cindy
I’m afraid not, I’ve come across smaller shades from time to time. Don’t remember If they were quite that small though, but they disappear as fast as they come on my radar. Also, I’m generally looking for proper Emeralite replica shades, but for now, we are stuck with the mass-produced standard ones.
Sean
Hello, I have a bankers lamp for a roll top desk, the lamp needs new glass (the glass was completely smashed). If you believe you can help, please send me an email where I can send you photos of the lamp as the glass was longer than a regular bankers lamp.
Thank you,
Shari Muller
I’ve contacted you, sorry for the late reply
Sean
Hi Mr Sean!
I scored a phenomenal “find” in a junk shop a couple of days ago. I saw what was obviously a banker’s lamp, although there was no cord, no shade, while the lamp and shade holder were coated with paint. When I picked it up and felt the weight, I immediately knew it was very old and well-made, probably pot-metal. I later put the lamp stand on a scale and it weighed 12 pounds! It was marked $20 but the dealer let me have it for $10.
I stripped the two coats of paint off the metal and off the lampshade holder which turned out to be a beautiful solid brass!
Now, I need to get a replacement shade. I measured the distance between the bolts where the shade would attach and it was between 8 3/4 and 9 inches. Should I got with 9 inches or 8 3/4?
Hi there BG!
It depends on where you measured the distance between the bolts. You should be able to have some of the bolt sticking out into the inside of the shade in order to be able to fasten the socket as well as the nut on the opposite side. This means that the actual shade should be situated approximately at the middle of the bolts holding the shade.
Carefully measure this distance and compare it to the diameter of the replacement shade you are interested in buying. Based on the measurements you’ve already made, I would think that the shades available on Amazon etc. should fit fine as they are around 8 3/4 inches wide if I remember correctly
Best of luck and congrats on your find!
Sean
Good Day to You ~
I would like to replace the glass shade with an unbreakable one – metal, mesh, cloth, perhaps even Tiffany-style with the metal reinforcement or a bare-bones scaffold that I could cover myself. My husband like to keep his lamp right by the bedside, and has twice broken the glass shade in his sleep, leaving jagged edges of glass exposed (scary!). Do you know of any such options?
Thanks for any assistance you can give me ~
~Chris
Hi there Chris!
Unfortunately I haven’t come across any relacement shades in any other materials than glass, so other than advising you to convince your husband to place it somewhere else im not going to be much of assistance im afraid :P. I hope you will be able to find something, and if you do be sure to let us know!