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Reference 17_2876

Vintage substation lights by Benjamin

Era: 1950s Origin: UK

Salvaged vitreous enamel pendants by British manufacturer Benjamin, from an electrical substation in the Northwest of England. The shades show small signs of wear and are accurately dated by their original manufacturer's labels. 

UK

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

Once we’ve salvaged a collection of lights, we bring them home to our studio and begin the slow process of restoration. Each light is disassembled and we examine every component for damage and flaws, so we know which can be kept, and which need to be replaced. We then hand over to our experts – in-house and locally – to carefully restore each component by hand.

Product details

Each light is supplied with a new bayonet (B22) lamp holder, 2mtrs of elephant grey braided cable and ceiling mounting plate. (If you would prefer another colour cable please just ask)

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

305 mm
190 mm
0.8 kg
n/a mm
n/a mm
Grey | White (internal)

Supplied tested to BS EN60598. IP20 for internal use only. All dimensions and weights are approximate.

Benjamin Electric

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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Lights for life

As 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.

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light bulbs faq

Light Bulbs

Why we recommend using energy-saving LED light bulbs in all of our vintage lights.

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Shipping

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Applications

Where our lights can be used internally and externally, including bathrooms and IP ratings.

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Returns

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A quick word from our customers

Light fantastic

Fantastic light and flex... We will be back for more! Service was unimprovable.

- Gareth | Northamptonshire | UK

Versatile light

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

Just what I had been looking for

I was very happy with the products I received. They arrived quickly and were packed brilliantly and professionally. There was no way they were going to be damaged in transit.

- Shakilah | Buckinghamshire | UK

Everyone adores our lights

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