May be a silly response, but assuming that the other two pins look like the one shown, could they be for the purpose of keeping the bulb seated in the socket - a sort of bayonet device (push the bulb in and rotate it a short distance to the right or left?

Wild decorating on the outside, too... [Linked Image]

The three way lamps we have in the USA start off with the same type of medium base screw shell, with the difference being the construction of the "button" in the insulating middle of the shell - a small button in the center, and a somewhat larger "ring" that encircles the space between the button and the shell. Shell is common to both filaments, with button as hot for one filament and the ring as hot for the other filament.

Mike (mamills)

[This message has been edited by mamills (edited 12-01-2006).]