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.
Oopsie!
Last month I published a Most Shocking Post, about my decision to stop working on the Cross properties after 11 very hard years and put the houses up for sale, along with the house I live in (Strong) and another small house I have (the Tin House). I stressed that I had no confidence the…
Continue ReadingRemember Reality
This is a political post. If interested please scroll down… At midnight, the US government shuts down. Republicans have been all out in pre-blaming Democrats. And they have been all out in lying about why Democrats won’t help keep the…
Continue ReadingJUST DO IT
This is a political post. If interested please scroll down.
Continue ReadingABOUT YOUTUBE
For years people have been asking why don’t I have a YouTube channel. And I’ve gotten what feels like a million requests asking the same last week. I have responded for years, in detail, why this is not a reasonable solution for me. This comment I found on YT and it sums up what my…
Continue ReadingWHAT NEXT?
ONE Sell Toyota. This will net me around $14K, which will help keep me afloat, and get rid of a $1,000 monthly payment. I plan to buy a Kia Soul for around $22K. My monthly payment will be around $400. The Toyota will be listed this weekend on Facebook Marketplace. I plan to ask $38,500…
Continue ReadingKarma?
This is a political post. Please scroll down if interested. Today, Charlie Kirk was killed. He is credited with driving young, angry white voters to Trump, and helping him get elected. Republicans are very upset…
Continue ReadingMy Most Shocking Post
This is a shocking post. Really. This is a post I never thought I would write. This is the hardest post I have ever written. Scroll down. But you will need some wine first. I’m going to put…
Continue ReadingInchin’ Along…
I will not be finishing the South Hall now. Sigh. After a bit more painting I will clean up the hall and resume work on the Carriage House. I have lost all patience with it still being unfinished. Bad Ross!
Continue ReadingPreserving the Past
A decade ago I did a post about wallpaper discoveries. It was all very exciting and urge you to read this post. In short, this is what the upper stairhall was papered in. The miraculous Bo ascertained the maker (!!!!) and found a pristine sample: But, did the paper continue down to the…
Continue ReadingCarriage House Inchin’
In 2013, when I first toured the Carriage House with the idea of buying the Cross Properties, I instantly realized what a great bathroom the Turret Room would make. So, you can imagine my excitement at seeing an old dream come true!
Continue ReadingRemember the Carriage House?
Justin reached out to me. “”I have next week available due to a cancellation. Can you use me?” Well…yes. Yes, indeed. The entire second floor of the Carriage House is now rewired (The lower floors were done way back in 2020). So, I can now install lights!!!!!! A particularly…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue Reading