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.
A Damn 1930s Pendant
I have had this fixture forever. Years ago I took it apart to restore it. And there it sat and sat and sat. At last, I could ignore it no longer. So, I am immensely pleased, and immensely relieved, to present… My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingEight Luscious Sconces
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA UFO ALERT!
The scale is impressive. The top width is 20-inches. The shade is almost 14-inches wide. The height is 10-inches. The shade sits in a metal ring, which is attached by two clips to the upper housing. The clips have short chains which prevent them from accidentally opening. Cool. The upper…
Continue ReadingA Marble Chandelier!
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA Lovely Moe-Bridges!
The Moe-Bridges Company was established in 1915, in Milwaukee, WI. In 1943, the company was renamed The Lighthouse, and then Visa Lighting in 1963. Today, Visa Lighting is thriving, and still in Milwaukee! My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingThe Forever Light
I had a light in storage. I had a light in storage for a long time. I had a light in storage for a long time because I, a very long time ago, took it apart, stripped it of the caked-on paint covering all the metal components, and then…just let it sit in a box…
Continue ReadingI LOVE MEGAN!
Last week two large boxes arrived. I had not been expecting them. Then I noticed the return address. Megan had sent me something!!!!!!!! I was breathless with anticipation! Megan is also restoring a great big old house, and she also blogs about the adventure. But what had she sent me???????? Porcelier became famous…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingAvenging Another 1930s Lightolier Knock-Out
Yesterday, I did a post about a Lightolier fixture I had in storage forever. Feeling quite guilty all of a sudden, I hauled it out and restored it. The results were a glory. Inspired, this morning I went back into the dark recesses of my storage vaults and hauled out another Lightolier which had been…
Continue ReadingAvenging a 1930s Lightolier Knock-Out
Like eight years ago I purchased a way cool 1930s light fixture by the fabulous Lightolier Company. It was in poor shape, so I took it apart to rewire, repaint, and refurbish. And there it sat. Year after year after year. On occasion I would pull out the box-o-parts from the storage shelf, look at…
Continue ReadingA Lightolier Duo
I had a large matching set of 1930s fixtures by Lightolier listed for sale. The set included chandeliers and pendants and sconces; thirteen fixtures total. A buyer wanted the whole set save two fixtures. So, eleven fixtures were shipped to Pennsylvania, and I relisted the two remaining fixtures. Wanna see them? …
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA Dramatic Deco Set!
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA Dramatic Deco Duo!
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingMarkel MANIA!
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingASTONISHING Beauties!
My online vintage lighting store.
Continue Reading