We love restoring old lights.

That’s a given.

But in order to bring something back to life, you have to find it first.

Over the years we’ve been in just about every setting imaginable to find old lights. From old houses to barns, banks to halls, fields to garages and places in between its always fun and challenging at times. With the popularity of shows like American Pickers, the art of antique picking probably has not been this popularized since……well….ever. There are benefits and drawbacks to Frank and Mike’s methods and weekly odyssey’s but I’m not going to get into that here. Instead, I’m going to talk about our latest finds as well as how we go about buying lighting.

To start. Old lighting is hard to find. There’s a ton of furniture out there and no shortage of porcelain chatchkas for those that are so inclined. But old lighting…..mainly good old lighting….is a scarce breed. Although we’ve been lucky to have acquired some fantastic pieces over the years, we are always on the look out for unique pieces as that’s the mainstay of our business. Everyday people will call or email us images of items they are looking to sell and about 70% of the time, we have to decline. It’s not that we do not appreciate people approaching us. Instead more about the quality than the thought and when a light is from the 1970s and labeled as an antique, we have to decline. Price is also another factor as we cannot offer the same price as to what we sell a similar item in our showroom for. Although we all want to get a shake at the money tree, economy dictates otherwise. So when we get approached by someone looking to sell, we always like to find out the following information.

What is it?

How old is the lamp and where did it hang or where was it mounted to. Photos are a must when inquiring about selling items and usually we can deduce what it is from that.

Availability

Where is it and how far to do we have to travel for it? Is it local or does it require a GPS and multiple Tim Horton’s coffees to get there? Is it installed or already taken down. Because we’re not electricians, we cannot take them down and require them done beforehand for liabilities sake.

Quantity

How many are there? Quantity does not always trump quality but in the case of wall sconces, ceiling fixtures or table lamps, pairs and sets are always more desirable.

Quality, Materials and Measurements

What are they made of? How well are they made? How big is it? Spelter, brass, bronze and aluminum are the most common metals lamps are made from and quality varies. A cast spelter fixture from the 1880s may be more desirable than a stamped brass fixture from the 1940s even though the later is of a more durable material. Its all in the quality and how it was made.

Price

How much do you want for it? Unlike some other dealers that will go to no ends to low ball and offer next to nothing for antiques, we believe in an ethical code for buying. That’s why we always ask people what their price is so we can make an educated choice if we are interested and offer them a fair price. That way everyone is happy.

Now that brings me to out latest find which summarizes everything I just talked about.

A few weeks ago, a client looking to sell some lights approached us. We asked to have a look at them and were presently surprised by what we saw. We checked out the photos, finalized the details through email and headed on out on an early morning pick.

Preserved in a barn for over 60 years

Dating from approximately 1910, these lights came out of a Bank of Commerce in the Hamilton area that was torn down sometime in the 1950s. The gentleman that salvaged them was a treasure trove full of stories and had kept them in storage in his barn for over 60 years. Tucked away in a tiny little room were not only all of the lights but a huge portion of the bank interior from marble to 7’ oak doors.  It was a spectacular to see considering that it survived all of these years.

We were excited by the purchase and the fact that we got the opportunity to not only buy the lights but to hear this really interesting gentleman’s stories of a by gone era.

Currently the wall sconces are in the works and will be restored for exterior use.

C 1910. One of a pair of spectacular bronze sconces with original glass

They will look spectacular flanking a large entry way or garage. Really excited to see them done.

So if you do have something you are looking to sell, please let us know Right now we’re in the market for interesting Art Deco slipper shade lights, industrial lighting and interesting Edwardian lighting. Keep in mind we need to know as much as possible about the lamp and include photos and a price. Whether we’re interested or not, we’ll let you know and give you an honest answer every time.

Even if it was made in 1988 as opposed to 1888.

Original Tiffany Wisteria Lamp: One of the most sought after and expensive antique lamps ever made

Antiques carry presence, history and craftsman ship that is rarely seen today. They are treasures to be loved, cherished and hunted for and one can’t help be amazed at the uniqueness of their design. There is a reason that people are drawn to antiques and that reason goes beyond the fact that they are old or potentially valuable. Instead the reason can be traced to what they are, how they have survived after all of these years and the personal meaning they may carry towards owners or prospective buyers.

Then there’s the hunt.

Any well seasoned antique hunter or new person to the market knows how much fun it is to hunt and find the right thing they were after. It’s not just buying something….its finding  something. Something unique and wonderful that no body gets to own but them.

But for every treasure out there, there are at least ten wrecks out there that should be avoided.

From antique furniture to lighting, there’s a 50/50 chance that is has been altered, repaired or fiddled with in some way. Professional jobs are hard to spot and for good reason. Good repairs or alterations do not necessarily alter the value of the piece so much as just protect what is there for a hundred more years of enjoyment. Of course this depends on what it is and certain items carry higher values in their original state whether they are damaged or not.

Bad repairs though……they can be more hassle then they are worth. In my lifetime’s worth of experience in dealing with antiques, I have seen just about everything. From painted chewing gum to patch up holes to “rewired” lights done with speaker wire. I am amazed and confounded at the cheapo lengths DIY’rs will go to. What’s made even worse is when dealers know that there have been massive alterations or poor repairs and try to sell them as originals or fully “restored” pieces.

Like any resourceful company, we do look around to see what our competitors carry. There’s a lot of good out there but there’s also a lot of bad. One such company (that shall remain nameless) has a very extensive selection online, but a selection that is always on sale. When I look at what they have and what they profess them to be, I can’t believe they can charge what they do for essentially lying to people. At one point I saw a very nice set of early art deco slipper shade wall sconces on their site. Unfortunately they were missing all of their glass (the most valuable part) and the glass was replaced by metal parts for the ceiling cap of an earlier lamp. A lamp made 20 years earlier I might add. And they were charging a higher retail price that we would ask in our showroom fully restored!

When I emailed the company about the sconces, they assured me they were all original and would never alter an antique the way I was suggesting.

It was outrageous to see and even more so to be lied to.

And I’m sure they do it every day.

Antique dealers and companies that restore antiques sometimes have a bad reputation as sharks or shysters and its because of companies like the ones above. Which is why I’m trying to right the wrongs.

When you are looking at antique lighting, there are things to be mindful of other than style, size or budget. Here are a few:

Electrical Safety:

This 1920s cast arm pan fixture was rewired but the sockets were never replaced. Sign of a poor restoration job

Antique lighting was either, gas, electric or both. Unless it’s a signed L.C.T Tiffany or Handel lamp, the original wiring and sockets add no value to the lamp and actually act as a liability. All vintage and restored lighting should be rewired with new sockets and either CSA or UL approved for installation. By law through the Electrical Standards Act, all lighting has to be certified for installation.

Proper restoration with CSA approved porcelain sockets

All to often, antique dealers and “restoration” companies will replace the lead wires but not the sockets as seen the photo on the left. This is not safe and not reflective of a quality restoration. Only porcelain sockets  should be used for down bulb lights as seen on one of our restored fixtures on the right.

Repairs and Adaptations

As I mentioned before, there are some terrible repairs have been conducted on antique lighting with the goal of getting the job done as opposed to getting it done right. The fixture on the left is a fantastic C 1880 aesthetic movement gas light. It came into us with a couple of the arms drilled out when it was originally electrified in the 1900s.

Restoration of a C 1880 gas arm: click for larger image

Not only did the person drill right through the arms to get the wire through but they also ripped off the gas key so no one would turn it and pinch the wire. This was an incredibly poor job that resulted in us doing a full restoration of the arm and a recast of the gas key. It looks as original as the day it was made but took us a long time to correct other peoples problems. When looking at antique lighting, its important to notice poor repairs and use those as red flags that the light isn’t what it seems. Fixing those bad repairs can often cost more than what you paid for the light which is why its important that it’s done right. Saves you time, money and provides piece of mind which will allow you to truly enjoy the light.

Finish and Overall Condition

Original finishes are the most sought after for certain collectors and there is a reason why. Its partially reflected in the overall value but more importantly, its something that has lasted all of these years which is a rarity with antique lighting. But original finishes are fragile things and often don’t last the test of time. All too often people with re-polish antique lighting to get the bright shiny brass effect but fail to lacquer or treat it in any way. As a result, the fixture tarnishes and needs constant maintenance as seen with the fixture on the right which has tarnished to a dull brass.

Poor restoration and rewire with dents a tarnished finished and wiring sticking out!

To make matters worse on the fixture, the person who “restored” it failed to remove any of the dents in the center body and actually left wire sticking out of the arms. The fixture was actually “live” on the ceiling which was a major fire hazard.

Vintage lighting finishes. Ours are almost identical to the ones produced over 80 years ago

With finish, it’s important to choose something you like and a finish that will last. All of our finishes are period style finishes fashioned after original ones form the 1880s onwards. They are all treated with lacquer or wax and are suitable for interior and exterior use where specified.

Although a lot of this may seem overwhelming, its actually not. I explain it to clients everyday and that’s what make us and our lighting different from our competitors. Although we may not divulge how we restore everything we always make sure to both show and tell people that it’s done right. That’s why we’ve been in business for over 30 years restoring lighting, have CSA approval on our lighting and why we offer a warranty on all of our antique lighting.

We stand behind everything that we do because like the antiques we love to find and restore, we want them to carry on for another 100 years of enjoyment.

Victorian houses have a lot of potential to mix ecclectic styles

There are so many styles, influences and histories involved in old houses that the process of choosing a light can be overwhelming. To top it off, when you mix your personal tastes the process of choosing a light can come grinding to a halt because people are afraid of mixing what they like with what they live in.

My best piece of advice to every client is to choose something that they like. It’s their house and they have to enjoy every thing in it as much as possible. I used to be a real historical purist when it came to homes and would mainly guide clients to period fixtures for their period homes.

Pan Lights are versatile fixtures for any style of home and are offered in 2,3,4 and 5 light configurations

Some would be really interested and jump at the chance to own something of the era while others leaned towards more modern fixtures 60 years newer than their 1870’s Victorian house. Although it may seem odd to put an Art Deco light into a Victorian home, its actually not.

In fact, it’s very historically accurate.

Art Deco slipper shade fixture found in an 1890s Victorian

As I mentioned before, old homes have had a variety of histories. From the people who lived there to both the major and minor changes that have been made to the structure over the years. Tastes and interiors changed and so to did technology. Electric lighting brought about new styles and designs and homes that were converted from gas to electricity often had the newest lights to reflect those styles. We’ve often seen original houses from the turn of the century fitted with all Art Deco lighting because those were the first electric lights ever installed in the house.  The same goes with cast arm fixtures or just about any other electric fixture available.

When doing homes that were originally electric, the style is not quite as diverse as there were certain fixtures made for certain styles of homes. In Toronto, we have a plethora of Tudor revival homes, which was the style of choice for many of the 1920s “suburbs” now within the heart of the city. The Tudor and Gothic style can seem very heavy and castle like which is appealing to some and oppressive to others. For clients that want more of an updated look with a period feel, we recommend using lighter finishes on the lighting. In some cases we’ll restore their period lighting that came with the home while in others we’ll select antiques and reproductions from our showroom. Finishes like satin nickel, burnished and highlighted brass and antique brass have a rich but lighter appearance that compliment more contemporary designs while also having a period feel.

Satin Nickel finish brings a cross over and contemporary feel to traditional lights

Also with older historic homes, what you see is not necessarily what you get. Many have been gutted or drastically transformed over the years with only remnants of their formers selves. Purists will bemoan this fact and often try and bring the home back to what it once was. For this you have my full respect and support as you are doing a huge service to the house. But for those that like the way it is, there are a lot of possibilities inherent on the walls and ceilings. Because you have a blank canvas, treat each light like a piece of art curated in a gallery. You can chose from different, styles and finishes and the only limitations are your budget and imagination.

To learn more about various historic styles, make sure to visit our style guide.

Also, if you have any specific questions regarding your house or a certain style, do not hesitate to email me.

It’s been a hectic time for us here as we’ve been restoring some amazing fixtures, working on a film shoot and making some big changes to the website. They are not unveiled as of yet but we’re  hoping to launch them this summer. I will give you a hint though.. …   Its going to make shopping on our site a lot easier.

As the manager here, I have many roles which range from  web designer to sales rep to craftsperson. The great thing about my job is that I’m part of the process and can deliver a design based on the client’s specifications that we worked out in the showroom. When you are the one selling it and making it, there is a level of control, understanding and general good will that that you don’t get from mass produced products overseas.

That’s a rarity in this day and age and it’s something that we pride ourselves on. The home is THE personal place and when there are so many lighting options on the market, it can be overwhelming and seem less personal. When we work with clients, we like to make a connection to them and their house. That way, they get what they want and know they made the best decision that honours the vintage of their house and their personal style.

All too often people will buy lighting from high profile showrooms around town only to realize that what they just purchased was made in China. What they bought was more reflective of a design and brand rather than of quality and craftsmanship. We’ve often had to work with clients to either repair or replace such items and when they come into our showroom, they always as the question………”why didn’t I find you first?”

That question can be taken in many ways and when we hear that a client’s whole house was done without us and they are just discovering us now, it can seem a little deflating. But in all actuality……its not. Instead we take it as a compliment to who we are and what we do and are glad they found us regardless. It just makes us want to reach out to more people with the goal of adding a nice light to their new powder room or working on lighting their whole house.

So if you’ve come across our site for the first time, we’re really glad you’ve found us!

Our new full page ad in Old House Interiors magazine

Also, if you are an Old House Interiors subscriber or advocate, make sure to check out the May/June edition which will be out shortly. I just designed the  new ad and am really pleased with it

And one more thing….I know I have been tardy in updating this blog as we’ve been busy as mentioned before. But I am going to make more of a concentrated effort to get posts up or a more frequent basis.

1950s American Cars are all over Cuba. Many have be retrofitted for diesel.

Cigars, rum, revolution and 50’s American cars are a few things that Cuba is renowned for. With tourism acting as one of the mainstays of the Cuban economy, over 1 million tourists visit Cuba each year, to experience the resorts beaches, and local sights. My girlfriend and I just got back from a great trip to the Santa Clara region where we were there for a week. On one of the days we took a day trip into Santa Clara and Remedios which were both colonial Spanish towns. With Santa Clara being the largest of the two, we stopped there first for lunch and to walk around.

Cuba has some amazing pre revolutionary architecture ranging form historic Spanish colonial to Beaux Arts and Art Deco.In the provincial capital Santa Clara, the main square had a combination of all three of these including an Art Deco hotel right out of Miami beach, a stunning Beaux Arts Library and a Spanish Colonial decorative arts museum.

Resources are scarce In Cuba so the buildings look a little faded in spots.

Beaux Arts post lights with a Spanish Colonial building in behind

Original Gas Light

Amazingly though, most of the original lights are still hanging in places such as the gas pendant lights in the library and the solid bronze exterior post lights outside.

We left Santa Clara for Remedios which is a smaller, older colonial town founded in 1520. The gem of the town is the colonial grand church “Iglesia Mayor” of San Juan Bautista. Located in the central square, it dates from the 1600’s and possesses a massive gold alter. We took a tour of the church and low and behold, there was a C 1870 English Eastlake gas lantern in entry way.

C 1870 Eastlake Gas Lantern in the church

I was amazed that it survived after all of these years and that the original wheel cut cylinder shade was intact. It had been electrified sometime around the turn of the century which might have been the last time it was ever cleaned as well. After visiting the church we checked out the square where I met an antique dealer with a booth set up in the square. He had a neat selection of old tin signs and both Cuban and American ephemera. Some was for sale and some not. Either way it was fantastic to see.

Private residence with some great antiques including a 1920s chandelier

With the bus loading up, it was back to our resort which was an hour away. Of all the times I have visited Cuba, I am always amazed as to what the country once was in comparison to what it is now. On one hand, you have such a historic country that was influenced by so many colonial and foreign occupants that you can help be amazed at all of the different types of history, culture and architecture. But all of that came at a price both socially, culturally and economically. The Cuban revolution was meant to bring the country back to the people and in many ways it has. The government looks after the people via education, healthcare and employment and although the country lacks resources in many areas, the people are the most resilient, friendly and amazing people you will ever meet.

Beaux Arts architecture in the main square

Although this isn’t a forum to speculate about the future of Cuba, I can’t help but wonder what it’s going to be like in another 20 years as the old guard passes on to the new. If you have never been to Cuba…….go. It’s a beautiful, exuberant place that offers a glimpse back in time in present day.

1929: Front Cover

Featured in this post is the 1929 R.F.Wilton Electric Co. Catalogue from Toronto, Ontario. Located at 124-128 Richmond Street West in what is now an awe inspiring parking bay for the Sheraton Hotel, the R.F. Wilton Company was a prominent retailer and distributor of electric lighting in Toronto. They occupied 3 addresses of prime retail space in Toronto’s downtown core and directly competed with large companies such as Simpson’s and Eaton’s which were located a bit further east along Yonge St.

I haven’t done a lot of research on the company but it’s clear by the lighting that they carried, that they were a distributor that carried lighting by other manufacturers.

Selection of pan lights shown. Very popular fixtures in the 1920s

This is evident in how simple and widespread the styles of lighting they carried were. A range of pan lights were offered along side Tudor revival cast ceiling and wall lighting as well as simple flush mount and porcelain bathroom wall sconces. We’ve seen many of the same fixtures from other company catalogues as wide spread as Philadelphia to Los Angeles.

Embossed matching ceiling and wall sconces

Inside the catalogue is an order form as well which would allow consumers to select the finish, quantity and length of the fixture they desired. With prices ranging from $3.00 for a hallway fixture to $15.00 dollars for a dining room fixture, the lighting carried appealed to a mass market and middle class. We make joke about the prices then, but $15.00 was the equivalent of $300 now.

Over the years many of these lights from the R.F.Wilton Co come into our showroom from old homes all around the city. They’re usually covered in white house paint or worse, and are in definite need of a refresh. We love working on them as they provide instant links to a homes past and homeowners are really pleased to see what would have been in the house in 1929.

Porcelain bathroom lighting

In my mind, the most interesting part of this catalogue is not necessarily the lighting inside but the link to Toronto’s past. The catalogue was printed in 1929; the tail end of the roaring twenties and the birth of the great depression. Electric lighting was a huge technological innovation that everyone scrambled to acquire and the twenties were the true age of electricity and innovation. From lighting fixtures to light sockets, its fascinating to see what was modern at the time and the selecting of lighting people had before them.

Cast iron porch lights

When I’m walking around the city and see a nice cast iron porch light (as seen in the picture to the left) that’s been there for 90 years, it doesn’t look tired or dated. Instead it looks proud and stoic. A small but illuminated link to both the home and Toronto’s past.

Detroit's famed Art Deco Penobscot Building

A few weeks ago I was on a buying trip and was going through Detroit on my way back to Canada. Over the years I’ve had a love for that city, its people, the architecture and the attitude and pride the city has. It’s a city that’s known its share of hardships and although it may appear rough on the surface, Detroit’s one of the friendliest cities I’ve ever visited.

Usually when I’m in Detroit, I like to check out the restoration progress of the buildings downtown, hit up some local stores and go to a Coney Island for some chili fries. This time, I didn’t have the luxury of being a tourist as my Volvo wagon was filled with lighting gems for restoration. Before crossing the border, I hit up a shop in Detroit which I’ve always heard about but never visited. I’m not going to divulge my secret location except to say that it was a really happy surprise and I’m excited to go back.

When you find an industrial light this cool, you can’t wait to find more.

Before

Dating from approximately 1910, this two light reflector is an early electric utilitarian light that was often used in commercial buildings and factories. So the story goes on this one, it came out of an abandoned Detroit factory where it amazingly had been hanging, untouched for over 80 years.

As you can see in the before photo, it was in rough condition and the brass had been fully oxidized after hanging on the factory ceiling all this time. The original canopy had corroded and wasted away and one of the bulbs that were in it had fused to the light cluster. It looked pretty far gone but was definitely worth the challenge to restore.

After

When these were originally made, they were finished in a darker brass which tended to colour over time. We wanted to bring it all back so we applied our signature antique brass finish to give it an early feel. The broken bulb was removed from the cluster and the cluster rebuilt and tested to modern specifications. The amazing thing about early electric lamps like these was that they were made to last.

I don’t know which factory it came out of but given Detroit’s moniker as the Motor City, a part of me likes to think that it was illuminating the Ford Model T’s rolling out underneath of it.

Ford Highland Park - Check out the light in the back!

If you have a look at the black and white photo you’ll see why.

If you are interested in this fixture, you can view it here on our online catalogue.

Like Detroit…it’s a real American gem.

Exterior Gas Lamp outside St. Lawrence Hall in King St. E.

Although many see it as a flickering novelty of the past, gas lighting was once an important and defining factor in how people lived, worked and experienced the night. In Toronto, gas lighting was first introduced in 1841 by the Toronto Gas Light and Water Company Ltd. which opened the cities first gas works near Front and Parliament. For a city of 12000 souls, this was a clear sign of modernization and of the times to come. The Consumers Gas Company was created to directly compete with The Toronto Gas Light and Water Company Ltd. and eventually bought them out in 1847. Gas works were further enlarged to serve the growing city and by 1873, Consumers Gas was responsible for supplying gas to all of the cities street lamps, commercial buildings and private residences.

Consumer's Gas Building on Toronto St.

That same year, a striking new head office was built for Consumers Gas at 17-19 Toronto Street and designed by the famed local architects of Grant and Dick. Saved from the wrecking ball of the 60s and 70s, the building is still there today and represents one of the best examples of Renaissance Revival architecture Toronto has to offer.

In the late 1880s, due to the cost and reliability, gas lighting was still the predominant lighting source in the city but was under threat by a new source. Electricity. Electric lights were prominent fixtures on city streets and gradually were entering commercial and residential buildings. By the turn of the century, both gas and electric lights sat side by side and were often combined in many light fixtures. The First World War and the roaring 20s all but quashed gas lighting although it did remain in select buildings and residences well into the 1940s.

Two light gas fixture at the William Lyon Mackenzie House

Currently Toronto has unique display of gas lighting around the city. All of people are familiar with the gas lighting in the distillery district as it is a huge local and tourist destination throughout the year. If you have ever been to a wedding or a function at St. Lawrence Hall, then you are sure to come across the iconic gas lanterns on King Street as well as the spectacular crystal chandelier and wall lights in the main hall. Other spots of interest include the William Lyon Mackenzie House museum on Bond Street (interior and exterior gas lamps), the gas lanterns on the Victoria entrance of the Canon Theatre, the elaborate gas lamps flanking the door of the Consumers Gas building. Further north is the lone gas lamp on College street at Fire Station 315 and last but not least is one of the cities historic gems; Spadina house. Built by Consumers Gas president James Austin, the house now functions as a museum and currently has two stunning 1860s crystal gasoliers in the main parlour.

Row of gas lights in the Distillery District

If you are ever about town and want to check out these remnants of Toronto’s history, I highly recommend checking them out. Most are in Toronto’s historic downtown core and a trip to the distillery district is always a lot of fun.

Sorry its been a while since our last update but it has been a exciting and busy time this holiday season.

Original 1937 Markel Catalogue

We’ve added some fantastic Art Deco fixtures to our new arrivals section including this wonderful Markel five light Art Deco slipper shade fixture. We were lucky enough to find this in an old catalogue dating from 1937 and its authentic as the day it was made.

Fixture in our New Arrivals section

One of the rarer slipper shade we’ve found, the Markel light has an amazing bakelite riser and finial which is both a rarity and a gem.

Last Monday we had the pleasure of having the film crew for the HGTV show Candice Tells All in our showroom shooting a small segment for an upcoming show. I can’t reveal the details until it airs but will say that it was a blast and  that the cast and crew were really professional.

Lastly, I would like to give a big thank you to Gary and Warren for their hospitality. They own the Secret Garden Inn in Kingston, Ontario and my girlfriend and I had the pleasure of staying in this amazing B & B while we were there for a Neko Case concert a couple of weeks ago (concert was awesome as well).

Secret Garden Inn : 73 Sydenham St S Kingston, ON

Kingston is a great town with great architecture, tons of history and great food as well. If you plan on staying the weekend, I highly recommend the Secret Garden as it sums of all of the amenities Kingston has to offer in a truly unique setting.