Customer Ratings: 
List Price: $122.00
Sale Price: $82.99
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I clamped this puppy onto my desk so that I could work on my art projects. Originally, I was hoping to obtain a more natural light (combining the fluorescent bulb with one of those "full-spectrum" bulbs) but it didn't work out the way I'd hoped. However, that small issue aside, I've got some other points I'd like to make:
Pros:
1) Solidly constructed. The springs, arms, and shade are tough. I wouldn't use the parts to build a roll-cage for a 4x4, but for holding it's own weight, bumping into it occasionally, and breaking it down to put in storage, it's plenty rugged (Note: I haven't actually put it into storage since I got it, but I wouldn't hesitate!).
2) With a nice, metal clamp at the base, this lamp stays put. Other articulating lamps I've had tended to wriggle off the edge of my desk after 20 or so rotations of the lamp about the base. Not this one. I clamped it to my desk 7 months ago, articulated the heck out of it on regular basis since, and I haven't had to re-tighten it once. Sweet.
3) You don't lose and outlet with this lamp because it's got one at that base. I plug my laptop into it and I plug other electronic devices requiring A/C power. Be still, my beating heart.
4) This thing's got a vicious, 40" reach and it stays where you put it. No sagging; not even a slow droop. 40" reach. Damn, where do I sign?
Cons:
1) You know that base outlet I talked about in (3) above? Yeah, about that: it rotates with the lamp. If you plan on rotating the lamp about the base beyond 90 degrees while having something stationary plugged in, it might harsh your buzz a bit to know that the prongs (of the electronic device that you've got plugged in) could get bent outta shape and ripped out. It happened to me while I was rotating the lamp about the base. Also, the cord of that electronic device you've got plugged in could also get wrapped around the base, hindering the movement of the lamp that happened to me too. I wept quietly but nobody was around to see me.
2) Like all fluorescent lamps, you got that annoying hold-the-button-in-the-on-position-and-then-let-go mechanism to switch it on. This means you gotta hold the lamp head in place if you're going to turn on the fluorescent part. Not a deal-breaker.
3) Like the other reviewers, I got some sketchy packaging from the seller, Shoplet. Everything was there, it came in time, and the price was great but something about the way it was packed called to mind a shady, back-alley purchase out the back of a van... ...where you get great deal with no regrets.
This lamp only gets 4 starts because of the cons. However, if those cons don't seem like cons at all, then you got yourself a 5-star product, pal... time to add to cart.
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I just received the product today and was very disappointed: the clamp for mounting the lamp was missing as was any instructions/manual and no 100 Watt bulb. The packing by shoplet.com was absolutely unreal: they simply placed a UPS sticker on the outside of the retail box designed to be put on a shelf. Needless to say the trip via UPS obliterated the box and I suspect that is how the clamp and instructions were lost.
Normally the shipper's place the product in a larger box with some bubble wrap.
Now the real kicker: I got a bag of candy from shoplet the day after I ordered packed in a really nice strong box! Somebody has their priorities wrong over there they should spend the money on a decent box instead of overnighting a bag of candies that went in the trash.
Bottom line good light seems strong and well made, but beware of the seller shoplet.com could become shopnot.com.
Best Deals for Ledu L445BK Professional Fluorescent/Incandescent Swing Arm
This has both a circular fluorescent lamp and an incandescent lamp, as part of the shipment. You have an option to turn on either, one at a time, or both together. The finishing looks sturdy and excuisite. It has totally eased my reading and writing experiences, since the light output is very pleasing to the eye. Being a masters student with lots of homework, a full-time employee and with interest in cartooning, this lamp is an indispensible purchase I ever made, and very happy about it.
Honest reviews on Ledu L445BK Professional Fluorescent/Incandescent Swing Arm
This is a great lamp, especially for color work. With both types of light, it makes a real difference in how color appears on paper.
However, as with another reviewer, my lamp arrived with no clamp, no instructions, and no light bulb. How am I supposed to use it if there's no way to attach it to a desk?
Nice, now I have to go out shopping and find a clamp, which is exactly what I wanted to avoid by buying online.
Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Ledu L445BK Professional Fluorescent/Incandescent Swing Arm
10-14-13 Update:
Caution! They've completely changed this lamp from just a couple of years ago! My old review was no longer valid. The change may have something to do with Amazon selling this lamp rather than Shoplet.
First, the good news...
The new lamp still comes with two lights--a light bulb (19W CFL) ringed by a circline fluorescent bulb (T5 25W 6500K). However, instead of three switches to control the lamp there are now only two On/Off rocker switches--one controls the light bulb and the other controls the circline fluorescent light. This is far more intuitive that the old three-switch system--one switch to turn ON the light bulb, one switch to turn ON the fluorescent and one switch to turn both lights OFF.
The old Ledu lamps were designed to use regular light bulbs. Consequently, CFL bulbs would "peek out" from below the rim of the bell, allowing the last coil or two to shine annoyingly in my eyes. I had to tape cardboard "extension" to the bottom of the "bell" to correct the problem. The new lamp doesn't have this problem. It may look shallower, but it actually completely shrouds CFL bulbs. Nice.
The new lamp seems to have the same great build quality as the older ones, including square-tube supports, metal "V" joints, triangular nut tighteners, and heavy-duty springs--the same basic construction as the lamps I've used every day for the past ~10 years. The lamp has no problems staying fixed at any position it's put in without having to tighten up the nuts at the joints. Also, the new lamps come with metal desk clamps (mount) again, instead of the funky plastic ones Ledu experimented with a few years ago. The plastic mounts functioned fine, but the lamps would bob up and down a tiny bit after their positions were adjusted. This can be unnerving to the uninitiated, especially when the lamp is hovering over something fragile. The measurements for the new lamps are roughly the same:
1. The first arm stands about 22.5", of which, about 3.5" is transformer.
2. The second arm is about 23" long from the "knee" to the middle of the "bell." Add 5" to the outer edge of the bell.
3. Standing straight up vertically (like a streetlight), the light is about 35"-36" off the desk.
4. Pulled horizontally (parallel to the desk), the lamp reaches about 41" to the middle of the bell.
Like all Ledu lamps of the past several years, the base still has a backwards-facing AC socket (9A).
Now the bad news...
You could use 100W incandescent bulbs in the old Lamps, but the new lamps are ONLY rated for CFL bulbs (19W max). The pathetic, single page of instructions did NOT say if was safe to substitute in a "regular" incandescent bulb. I use CFL bulbs, so I didn't bother to look into this. To be clear, this CFL limitation only applies to the BULB portion of the lamp. The circline fluorescent tube has a separate rating (see above).
Overall...
I prefer the new lamp over the older ones. The new 2-switch system is much more intuitive than the old system, the lamp is much brighter than previous models, and I used CFL bulbs, anyway. And the price has only gone up 10% in the past 10 years despite inflation!
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-Here's my OLD review for clarity/comparison/posterity...
I have a combination lamp like this one that is 8 years old. Before I bought it, I went through the cheaper swing arm lamps ($) every 2-3 years.
This lamp came with a 22W circline fluorescent tube installed (6400K), but no incandescent bulb. The lamp will take up to a 100W incandescent bulb, which is much higher than the 60W limit imposed by many other cheaper swing arm desk lamps. The springs are stout enough that I was able to install a 100W-equivalent CFL bulb (it protrudes about 1/2 inch below the hood). There are three rocker switches on the top of the lamp. The first one turns the incandescent bulb OFF/ON. The middle rocker supplies main power to the fluorescent bulb, but it won't turn it ON. To turn it on, you must press and hold the third, momentary-type rocker switch for a few seconds before releasing it. Not the simplest of configurations, but easy enough to learn. The lamp also comes with a spare outlet on the base. The outlet faces backwards.
Mounting: Be aware that the transformer housing (the box at the base of the lamp right above the clamp) is positioned mostly aft. That is, you have to have at least ~3.5" clearance between your desk and wall if you want to be able to move the lamp from side to side.
A couple of gripes... 1. The clamp mount is made out of plastic. It will probably last forever, but it feels cheesy compared to the metal mount on my old combo lamp. The plastic mount seems to allow the lamp to rock a tad longer after it has been repositioned--a minor gripe. 2. Shoplet shipped my lamp in its store-display box! When the box arrived it was crushed everywhere that the lamp didn't support it. Thank goodness it's a tough lamp.
One nice thing about Shoplet is that they shipped my lamp very quickly. I received it the day after I ordered it.
03/23/09 Addendum
Someone asked about its height...
1. The first arm stands about 22.5", of which, about 3.5" is transformer.
2. The second arm is about 23" long from the "knee" to the middle of the "bell." Add 5" to the outer edge of the bell.
3. Standing straight up vertically (like a streetlight), the light is about 35"-36" off the desk.
4. Pulled horizontally (parallel to the desk), the lamp reaches about 41" to the middle of the bell. Add 5" to the outer edge of the bell.
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