A lamp socket (10) comprises a housing (12) having a longitudinal axis
(14) and first and second planar surfaces, (16, 18), respectively, spaced
apart along the longitudinal axis (14), and orthogonal thereto. Aa
central, lamp receiving opening (20) is coaxially aligned with the
longitudinal axis 14 and mounting means 21 are formed with the first
planar surface for accepting, and electrically connecting a lamp, and
maintenance means 21a are formed with the second planar surface for
maintaining the lamp within the socket. The mounting means (21) includes
a first pair of lamp contacts (22, 24) positioned in a first pair of
cavities (22', 24') formed in the first planar surface (16). The
maintenance means (21a) include first lamp base receivers (30) and second
lamp base receivers (32) formed in the second planar surface (18); and
first and second lamp base retainers (38, 40), respectively, associated
with the second planar surface (18).