A substantial run of British enamel shades salvaged from Swan Lane Mills in Bolton - once the largest cotton mill in the UK. A classic example of 1950s British design, the lights still retain the original Benjamin labels and cast galleries which show small signs of wear to the surface.
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 UKThe restoration process our vintage lighting goes through can take many months. First, we gently disassemble each light fitting allowing us to spot any flaws and plan how best to bring it up to modern electrical standards. Our team of experts then patiently restore each individual component by hand, piecing back together the pieces to ensure it lives on for decades more to come.
This image of our 1950s British textile mill pendant light is taken from an original Benjamin broadsheet, found in the manufacturer’s catalogues in our archive.
Each light is supplied with a new screw (E27) lamp holder, 2mtrs of suspension chain, elephant grey braided cable and ceiling mounting plate. (If you would prefer another colour cable, wire suspension or an E26 lamp holder for use in the USA, please just ask).
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Diameter:
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355 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.
Excellent service in all respects.
- David | Preston | UK
I love it. It arrived quickly and in perfect order. Many thanks.
- Lucy | London | UK
I love the light and Cara was fantastic with bulb advice and sending me a copy of the picture of the engine it came from. Great service thanks.
- Marcus | Letchworth | UK
We found exactly what we wanted at skinflint: large industrial pendant lights from an old Dunlop Aerospace factory. They fill the space beautifully and we often get asked where they were sourced. With such heritage attached to them, they are like a piece of history that adds to the modern vintage feel we wanted to create.
- Estelle | London | UK
