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Vintage 1950s British factory shades by 'Benjamin' salvaged from a paintworks in Kent, UK. A simple and stylish vitreous enamel shade with a vented neck design. This allows uplighting and makes them real feature pendants when illuminated. Complete with the original brushed and lacquered steel gallery.
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).
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Diameter:
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430 mm |
Supplied tested to BS EN60598. IP20 for internal use only. All dimensions and weights are approximate.
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.
Our zero-carbon business policy and our commitment to looking after the planet.
Beautiful lights, very pleased with the quality. Excellent service overall from skinflint.
- Miriam | Hampshire | UK
I am so delighted to have found this website - beautiful original lights that are reasonably priced! I was not disappointed when my two pendants arrived. The service was quick and efficient. The lights are amazing. I can't wait to get them up in our new kitchen over the island.
- Sarah | London | UK
I've been admiring your lights for a while and the great work you guys do bringing them back to life... My Eastern Bloc LED light is now up and it's beautiful. Thanks for restoring such beautiful lights.
- John | Kerry | Ireland
We adore skinflint lights. Thank you for our latest buy retro Czechoslovakian pendant (V2). We love it, as well as the 1950s Polish street light and industrial pendant lighting we bought from you. We hope you like how we have used them in our home.
- Jill & Tony | Cheshire | UK
