Reference 18_3133

Rodded substation pendants by Benjamin

Era: 1950s Origin: UK

Industrial ceiling mounted lights by British manufacturer Benjamin, salvaged from a 1950s electrical substation in the Northwest of the UK. The parabolic enamel shade, suspended on a new fixed, powder-coated steel rod, was originally designed to illuminate the factory floor.

Left

Origin: UK

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.

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Restoration

The vitreous enamelled steel shades are in good condition but some show some small signs of wear, emphasising the industrial heritage and age of the product. A polished brass gallery features cast detailing, along with the original manufacturer's labels which are still intact. Over the years, we’ve restored thousands of lights that would otherwise have become scrap. We don’t only piece together the light’s components, we take the time to investigate its history, studying old catalogues for clues and assembling the whole story.

Product details

Each light is supplied with a new screw (E27) lamp holder and a powder-coated fixed length rod. (If you would prefer an E26 lamp holder for use in the USA, please just ask).

Diameter:
Height:
Weight:
Length:
Width:
Colour:

330 mm
1270 mm
2.3 kg
n/a mm
n/a mm
Grey | White (internal)

Product height: 370mm | Rod length: 900mm | Overall height: 1270mm. IP20 for internal use only. All dimensions and weights are approximate.

Manufacturer: Benjamin Electric

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.

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