These pendant lights were salvaged from a 1950s electrical substation in the UK's Northwest. Originally designed by British manufacturer Benjamin to illuminate factory floors, the grey enamelled parabolic shades feature unique worn patinas inline with their age. Suspended on a new fixed, powder-coated steel rod, they are perfect for lighting fixed focal points on walls.
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 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.
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).
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Diameter:
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330 mm |
Product height: 370mm | Rod length: 900mm | Overall height: 1270mm. 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.
I am very pleased with my purchase, it finishes off my dining room just perfectly.
- David | East Sussex | UK
Great light. It looks very smart. I was initially worried that it might be slightly big for the room (we don't have high ceilings) but it looks great and I am really pleased with it.
- Carineh | Oxfordshire | 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
