I have been restoring vintage lights since I was a teenager in the mid-1970s. An Interstate highway was being rammed through the city where I lived, and I ran (steps ahead of the bulldozers, and with my shag haircut flying) from one incredible building to another, and from one incredible house to another, and salvaged everything I could.
My poor, bewildered parents. Their garage was soon chock-a-block with what I thought were treasures beyond compare. But which they thought was just useless flotsam. I did though once overhear my mom say: “Well, at least he’s not out doing drugs.”
However, when all their boring lights were systematically replaced with the most stunning lights they had ever seen – and all for free, rewired, and restored – they soon had second thoughts about the flotsam. (I paid for new parts by mowing lawns!)
Fast forward many decades.
One day I realized I had a pile of old lights rusting away in my basement. I hauled a few out, restored them (bringing back many old memories), and listed them on eBay.
At the time I had no idea, not a clue, that I had just radically changed my life.
Within months my life was unrecognizable, and I was working full time restoring vintage lighting and selling the fixtures across America.
My new e-commerce website is now online. Whoee! Please feel free to shop and purchase here:
My blog post are below.
For Sale
Today…at last! at last!…I got my 2010 Town & Country presented for sale. In 2010, the car had a base price of $28,425. There were $7,700 worth of options added, for a total of $36,125. In addition, I installed a tow hitch, and a NOVERO audio system. I have poured almost $4800 into getting…
Continue ReadingOh, The Horror
Today, the vinyl siding was delivered. Yes, I wrote that. But tell nobody! It will be our dark secret. The revised plan is to use the…choke…siding on the north wall, the east, and the north kitchen wall. On the latter I had planned to restore the area around the kitchen door, and paint…
Continue ReadingCH: Day 94
Today, I put on a full Tyvek suit and other protective measures, hauled out the infrared stripper, climbed up a ladder, and removed some more evil lead-based paint to the right of the large window. I was very brave today.
Continue ReadingCH: Day 93
The temperatures have dropped into the 70s so next on my list is to slip into a new Tyvek suit and infrared off the remaining lead paint on the main front. Wish me well. NOTE: I had a new blood test for lead on Monday and should have the results soon.
Continue ReadingCH: Day 92
The next day I purchased a new gallon and drove to the Cross House. It was drizzling but I expected that it would stop in about an hour. So, I had lunch. An hour later it was still drizzling. Oh! I know what to do! And soon I was sound asleep in the…
Continue ReadingAn Art Deco Pillow
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingEPSON 126 PRINTER INK
I have an Epson printer. It takes #126 ink cartridges. But, I purchased a new printer. So, I now have no use for TEN #126 Epson ink cartridges, never used and still in their original packaging. Can you use them? If so, please let me know. I’ll ship them to you for free.
Continue ReadingMy SQUEE Announcement!
Recently I posted the above image. In the lower center can be seen a green bowl, sitting 8-feet above the ground, and adjacent to my cat fence, for squirrels and other small creatures to have some water during the recent DRY heat wave, and…this is vital…safe from my cats. Tonight, I’m highly pleased to…
Continue ReadingA Fence. A Bowl. A Solution?
Still hot, here. No rain. This afternoon I was in my fenced cat yard and saw a squirrel atop the fence, laying flat, head down, and with its paws hanging down the sides of the 8-foot-high fence. It looked dead. Oh dear. Then I noted it was just above the fish pond. And I thought:…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingCH: Day 87
Today, the weather changed from being assaultive to hot but OK. My infrared stripper came back from the repair shop. I found the box of disposable Tyvek suits I purchased a few years ago. Thus, I decided to foray back to the west front of the Carriage House. Ugh. This was HORRIBLE!…
Continue ReadingMy Non Day
Today was a bit over 100-degrees. I kept waiting for the humidity to drop. It did. Some. Around 12:30PM I departed for the Cross House. The humidity was a bit over 50%. So, not good but not HORRIBLE. The house was 92-degrees inside. Yikes. I turned on the AC, made lunch, and ate in the…
Continue ReadingCH: Day 86
Yesterday, I woke with all my windows covered with dew. So much so that I could not see out. Stepping outside, it felt like I was assaulted. The heat and humidity (70%) were intense. I thought: I’m staying inside today! Around 11Am thoughI noticed that my windows were now clear. Oh! I checked the humidity….
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue Reading