Prismatic English bulkheads by 'Simplex' circa 1960. Each light comprises a two part cast steel assembly featuring makers marks 'Made in England' with the original prismatic glass lens and internal reflector. They are suitable for both ceiling or wall application.
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 UKWhere possible we retain the original finish of a light - it is part of its history and emphasises its heritage. However, sometimes leaving a surface as we find it just isn’t possible. Some lights made from non-ferrous metals, such as aluminium, arrive so severely degraded we need to remove their outer layers to allow any further surface treatment to be applied. We do this using an environmentally friendly technique known as ‘soda blasting’. Soda blasting works by applying bicarbonate of soda to a surface under high pressure. The crystals explode at the point of impact and this ‘blasts’ the layer of degradation away - leaving the surface clean for the next stage in restoration.
Supplied with new porcelain screw (E27) lamp holder.
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Supplied tested to BS EN60598. IP20 for internal use only. All dimensions and weights are approximate.
Simplex Electric Co was formed in 1932 when Credenda Conduit Co and Simplex Conduits Ltd of Garrison Lane, Birmingham, merged. In addition to lighting equipment and conduits, the company began to manufacture Creda domestic cooking appliances. Between 1932 and 1965 Simplex Electric Co produced a wide range of lighting products but is primarily recognised for its early elegant prismatic street lanterns, bulkheads and latterly for linear industrial fluorescent fixtures. Then as the mass mergers of the 1960s unfolded, the company was bought by General Electric of the U.S.A. and production as Simplex stopped.
View all Simplex Electric Co 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.
Love the lamp - it is just what we needed to set off our new kitchen - will have pride of place over the breakfast bar. Excellent service from the company - was notified that delivery would be late by one day but was kept informed. Many thanks.
- Gordon | Glasgow | UK
Beautiful little ceiling plate. Elegant. Functional. Well made. Simple to install. Top quality. Excellent condition. Excellent
- Jonny | East Sussex | UK
Good product listings with careful explanations.
- Robert | Chichester | UK
Love the lights, love your ethos. Absolutely what more companies need to be doing. I have my Retro Czech Ceiling Lights (V2) in my dining room and the spray of light they give off is gorgeous and unusual.
- Jenny | Lincolnshire | UK
