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.
Baby Gills
My online vintage lighting store. I just listed a pair of petite late 1930s ceiling fixtures by Gill Glass & Fixture Company. The company was located on Amber Street in Philadelphia, and occupied most of the block between East Tioga and East Venango Streets. The factory backed up against rail lines, as was common, and…
Continue ReadingA Flawed Beauty
My online vintage lighting store. I have had the fixture in storage for many years. Two years ago I hauled it out and restored it. But, it still sat, unlisted. And why? Because the shade is damaged. I looked for the same shade on eBay for years, but in undamaged condition….
Continue ReadingA Classic Set
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingPrepare…TO GASP!
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA Pompeian Beauty
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA Cody Find
My online vintage lighting store. While the chandelier is ‘Colonial’ in style, it abounds with a very period touch: all the lovely scalloped edging: The edge of the frosting on the shades. The upper edge of the glass bowl on the bottom. The edges of the glass bobeches. The top edge of the stem….
Continue ReadingColorful Beauties!
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingA Brass Beauty
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingAnother Kenny Gift
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingThe Cody Scores. And more!
My online vintage lighting store. A short while back, Cody emailed me. He had found an incredible fixture on Facebook Marketplace, and attached an image. It was listed as: $500 or best offer. It was, indeed, incredible. Amazing, even. But it was also six hours away, and I had zero desire to drive twelve…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. The overpainting had covered over tiny holes for crystals! I had to drill the paint out, and wholly refinish the fixture. All new sockets and wiring as well. Then, with immense pleasure, I hung many crystals on the chandelier, switched the electricity on, and…SQUEE!!!!!!!! My…
Continue ReadingA Vintage Miracle
My online vintage lighting store. In an antique store, the owner really wanted me to buy a fixture. It originally had a large center glass shade, and three smaller glass shades hanging down. But the smaller shades were missing. The center shade had a dazzling wheel-cut starburst pattern and I explained that trying to find…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue ReadingBefore. After. Thanks, Clay!
My online vintage lighting store. A while back, I arrived at the Cross House to discover a small box sitting on the porch. What, I wondered, was inside? As I don’t use the house as my mail address, finding any delivery is, in itself, unusual. But, I do enjoy a surprise. Bringing the box in,…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue Reading“Pompeian” fixtures by Lincoln!
My online vintage lighting store. For many, many years, I had a set of 1920s lights stuck in storage, by Lincoln. The set needed a ton or work, and I was worried that I would not be able to restore the highly distinctive polychrome finish. But now? Squee! …
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. This 1920s chandelier is one of the most unusual I have ever restored. And, let me tell ya’, the process was a bitch! I cursed. Cursed! Often! Scaring kitties in the…
Continue ReadingBefore. After.
My online vintage lighting store. My online vintage lighting store.
Continue Reading