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).