Vintage 1950s enamel shades by 'Benjamin' mounted on salvaged school laboratory apparatus stands. The enamelled shades can be rotated 360 degrees on the ball and socket joint at the end of the arm, which can also be extended, raised and lowered to any desired position.
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 apparatus stand has a linished steel stem and arm, and a three-legged steel base with the original worn blue paint finish which has been retained. A nice detail is the polished aluminium and brass interconnecting bracket between the stem and the arm. There are some signs of wear to the shade which emphasises the age and heritage of the lights, along with the original manufacturer's labels which are still intact.
Each light is supplied tested and rewired with two metres of traditional twisted black cable, a new bayonet (B22) lamp holder, inline switch, and a plug.
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Diameter:
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170 (shade) mm |
Supplied tested to BS EN60598. Converted for use in the US and worldwide. IP20 for internal use only.
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.
Good product listings with careful explanations.
- Robert | Chichester | UK
The light works well because the industrial style and it complements the exposed brick walls and stone worktops in the kitchen.
- Charles | London | UK
My beautiful lamp arrived and the bespoke adaption is fabulous - this beauty is now mobile in my art studio, perfect for when I’m washing down my silk screens or doing detailed pencil work at my desk.
- Nicola | Woodford Green | UK
Just sharing a couple of images of our beautiful skinflint lights in our new renovation. We are SO happy with them and we get compliments on them from everyone who visits.
- Anna | NSW | Australia
