Vintage 1950s British factory shades by Benjamin Electric, salvaged from a paintworks in Kent, UK. Each pendant features an original brushed and lacquered steel gallery and a sleek and simple vitreous enamelled shade, providing downlighting when illuminated. Vented detailing brings an added element of uplighting too, making these great for kitchens, restaurants, bars and shops.
Lighting design in the UK benefitted from a free market. Different companies were working at the same time, designing and producing similar products for the same market. Often with only slight differences in their style, they constantly upgraded and improved their original designs. The products we salvage come from the old industrial heartland of England. This area of the UK was once the boiler room of the British economy - from the potteries of Stoke, through the engineering works of Birmingham, to the wool, textile and cotton mills of Oldham and Manchester.
View all lights from UKOnce a light has undergone preparatory treatment and the degraded surface has been removed, the path is clear for us to bring it back to life. At skinflint we tend not to repaint surfaces, this would make the lights look too ‘new’ and they’d lose some of their individuality. So, with ferrous metals such as iron and steel, we wax-polish the surface on large rotating cotton wheels adding shine, grain and highlights to the casting details and bringing out the light’s character through surface and patina.
Each light is supplied with a new screw (E27) lamp holder, 2mtrs of suspension wire, elephant grey braided cable and ceiling mounting plate. (If you would prefer another colour cable, chain suspension or an E26 lamp holder for use in the USA, please just ask).
|
Diameter:
|
430 mm |
Supplied tested to BS EN60598. Converted for use in the US and worldwide. IP20 for internal use only.
The Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company was founded by Reuben Berkley Benjamin in Chicago, Illinois in 1898. With the popularity of its lighting, the company expanded rapidly throughout the USA and Canada and then finally abroad, to England - more specifically London - which is where our shades were manufactured. Benjamin was a prolific inventor, mostly in the field of electric lighting. One of his most influential designs was the R.L.M. enamel shade - an influence so profound that this design is what we now recognise as the classic industrial enamel.
View all Benjamin Electric LightsAs well as offering a lifetime guarantee that includes repairs, our Full Circle buy-back scheme gives you the opportunity to trade-in your skinflint lights. It keeps vintage lights in use forever - helping you and our planet.
Trade in, get credit
Why we recommend using energy-saving LED light bulbs in all of our vintage lights.
Where our lights can be used internally and externally, including bathrooms and IP ratings.
Our UK Lighting Industry Association (LIA), British Standards and UL certifications.
Arrived next day, beautifully packaged and perfect for my own chapel renovation!
- Kate | Powys | UK
We have often purchased from skinflint and the fittings are exactly as depicted, delivered on time & with excellent customer service.
- Doug | UK | Commercial client
Lighting is critical to any room and when it came to putting the finishing touches to our vintage kitchen, we came to skinflint - and we found exactly what we wanted.
- Estelle | London | UK
These lamps are so practical yet elegant and unique. They’ll add a lot of character to our plain kitchen. The service levels were high - responsive and helpful.
- Clara | London | UK
