I've always found that feature on American lamps strange. At home I've one of those kitsch Niagara Falls lamps (with the internal fan, run on bulb heat, that projects "falling water" on the scene). The switch is a rotating knob, with 3 settings, but only ON in one setting.

>Ok, we have two lamps that act like this:
>

>Click
>Click
>Click (on)
>Click
>Click
>Click (off)
>

>I figured since there were extra clicks - albeit not the right number, but more than just on/off - that they must be 3-way lamps. When I put a 3-way bulb into them, they do not work like I expected, but just like they did before with a standard bulb. Why do the lamps have extra clicks if they are not 3-way, or why do they not work with a 3-way bulb if they are?
>
>There is a domestic dispute regarding this, so any information is gladly appreciated.