Issue link: https://alabamapower.uberflip.com/i/1111708
19 pains with making them, especially if it's for a retirement or birthday gi. That's special to people, and it's special to me." Using a checklist to make five lamps at a time – which Nesmith calls the "Henry Ford principle" – takes about two weeks. He outfits each lamp with a meter and an 18-gauge cord with a three-way socket that works with a 50-100-150-wa bulb. "The meter spins and, a year later, you can actually know how much electricity your lamp has used," Nesmith said. There's one caveat: A fluorescent or LED bulb requires so lile electricity, the disk won't turn the meter. Customers may remove the meter and aach it to a small appliance with an adapter to see the amount of electricity used. "Making the lamps is a slow, tedious process with a lot of labor," Nesmith said. "This is my hobby and I love it." He outfits every lamp with a shade and finial. The base is 18 pieces of walnut, which are glued, sanded and coated with seven layers of polyurethane. "The base is so shiny, you could use it as a mirror," Nesmith said. "It's beautiful." Considering the time and energy Nesmith invests, his customers say $125 is reasonable: A competitor sells a similar lamp for $600 to $800. "If I break even, I'm happy," Nesmith said. "I put in gas to deliver these things. A lot of people try to give me extra money, but I enjoy making these lamps." REVIVING CONNECTIONS AND MAKING NEW FRIENDS The pastime provides Nesmith a way to reconnect with old friends and make new ones. One weekend, he met a former co- worker at Peach Park in Clanton to deliver a lamp. "We had a bowl of peach ice cream and talked about old times," Nesmith said. "You cannot believe the excitement of people when I call them to let them know their lamp is ready. "It's good therapy, and it's been a really fun retirement thing for me," he said. "I'm just at peace with the world when I'm doing this. I want people to get a piece of art and a beautiful piece of history." Editor's note: For more about Nesmith's antique meter lamps, email him at ednesmith@charter.net or call 205-288-1039. Nesmith has built about 200 meter lamps for APC employees and retirees.