Comments on: Great retro pull down lights for your kitchen, from Progress vintage 1961 http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/ A place for your postwar 40s 50s and 60s style kitchens, bathrooms and mid century modern home aesthetic. Thu, 08 Jan 2009 02:31:10 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: Skyla http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-26226 Skyla Thu, 18 Dec 2008 05:04:11 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-26226 Well, I may just have to end up painting it a nice red enamel, (to go with my kitchen counter tops). Unfortunately the option of $$ on this lamp is a no-go, hubby says do it cheap or forget it. I have to agree, we will be about $50 into it, what with the other parts, and if I do a "colored" paint on it. I'll still keep looking for an affordable option, but things aren't working out too well. Sigh... When/IF I ever get this lamp done, I'll send the pics, but it probably won't be for a long time yet. We have endless work, refloor, rebuild a wall/hall, electricity, entire interior to paint, two story ranch, add to the living room oak floors where a hall came out and gave us about 18' x 3' of extra room. Good thing is the hardwood flooring IS doable, so will come after the hall/wall rebuild...someday. Just a part of the over-all fixing up that needs to be done. Hubby had to totally rebuild the entire front porch, deck, stairs (still needs to do stairs, but cement landing has to go in first), so it is just a big on-and-on-and-on, overwhelming thing. Will be worth it in the end. So you see, my poor little lamp is NOT on the money to spend radar, red enamel might be fun??? Thanks for the reply! Skyla Well, I may just have to end up painting it a nice red enamel, (to go with my kitchen counter tops). Unfortunately the option of $$ on this lamp is a no-go, hubby says do it cheap or forget it. I have to agree, we will be about $50 into it, what with the other parts, and if I do a “colored” paint on it. I’ll still keep looking for an affordable option, but things aren’t working out too well. Sigh…

When/IF I ever get this lamp done, I’ll send the pics, but it probably won’t be for a long time yet.

We have endless work, refloor, rebuild a wall/hall, electricity, entire interior to paint, two story ranch, add to the living room oak floors where a hall came out and gave us about 18′ x 3′ of extra room. Good thing is the hardwood flooring IS doable, so will come after the hall/wall rebuild…someday. Just a part of the over-all fixing up that needs to be done. Hubby had to totally rebuild the entire front porch, deck, stairs (still needs to do stairs, but cement landing has to go in first), so it is just a big on-and-on-and-on, overwhelming thing. Will be worth it in the end.

So you see, my poor little lamp is NOT on the money to spend radar, red enamel might be fun???

Thanks for the reply!
Skyla

]]> By: Mid Mod Pam http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-26153 Mid Mod Pam Thu, 18 Dec 2008 01:21:00 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-26153 Skyla, I checked in with Palm Springs Stephan and here is what he advises: "The only possibility I can think of is either of my two old standbys: plating or powder coating. Powder coating would be far cheaper than plating, and there are some truly amazing finishes available. I just had my Holly in-the-wall heater cover powder coated in "Extreme Chrome" and while it does not look like chrome, it does look very much like highly polished stainless steel, which is exactly the look I was going for. $125 for the 4 foot tall cover. Surely a lamp would be far less, though she may have to strip the current paint off first. And I know there are several shades of gold and brass available. And once it is done, the finish is highly durable ... no worry about touching or cleaning. Hope this helps." - Stephan I will also add, Skyla, that I also just bought an old light fixture this weekend that I was thinking of painting pretty much as you did. Now, I think I will give the powder coating a try. Gosh, sorry you went through all this... the issue with this old stuff is that it tests your patience (and pocketbook, often)...although the results are usually worth it. I need to put the photo of your light up for all to see. They will be jealous for sure, you have a very desirable one! - Pam Skyla, I checked in with Palm Springs Stephan and here is what he advises:

“The only possibility I can think of is either of my two old standbys: plating or powder coating. Powder coating would be far cheaper than plating, and there are some truly amazing finishes available. I just had my Holly in-the-wall heater cover powder coated in “Extreme Chrome” and while it does not look like chrome, it does look very much like highly polished stainless steel, which is exactly the look I was going for. $125 for the 4 foot tall cover. Surely a lamp would be far less, though she may have to strip the current paint off first. And I know there are several shades of gold and brass available. And once it is done, the finish is highly durable … no worry about touching or cleaning.

Hope this helps.” - Stephan

I will also add, Skyla, that I also just bought an old light fixture this weekend that I was thinking of painting pretty much as you did. Now, I think I will give the powder coating a try. Gosh, sorry you went through all this… the issue with this old stuff is that it tests your patience (and pocketbook, often)…although the results are usually worth it. I need to put the photo of your light up for all to see. They will be jealous for sure, you have a very desirable one! - Pam

]]> By: Skyla http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-26095 Skyla Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:51:59 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-26095 Well, found out the hard way (how else) what NOT to do for painting: I used the Rustoleum, sanded, primed, sanded, painted, etc EXACTLY to intructions, ended up doing the lamp 6 times total. :( EVERY time I touch it, try to dust it, and swear even so much as look at it, it scratches, comes off, etc. After two calls to Rustoleum, I find you that NO, you can not touch, dust, or clean this paint (ever)! Now thats makes too much sense, paint for interior use, RECOMMENED to use on my lamp, and you can not clean or handle it! So, not only does it not "shine", it is a big bust in my opinion. ANY ideas out there for a brush on Brass paint!? I have alot of surface area to do, and would prefer to not have to take it off the ceiling....yet again. Thanks! Skyla Well, found out the hard way (how else) what NOT to do for painting: I used the Rustoleum, sanded, primed, sanded, painted, etc EXACTLY to intructions, ended up doing the lamp 6 times total. :( EVERY time I touch it, try to dust it, and swear even so much as look at it, it scratches, comes off, etc. After two calls to Rustoleum, I find you that NO, you can not touch, dust, or clean this paint (ever)! Now thats makes too much sense, paint for interior use, RECOMMENED to use on my lamp, and you can not clean or handle it! So, not only does it not “shine”, it is a big bust in my opinion.

ANY ideas out there for a brush on Brass paint!? I have alot of surface area to do, and would prefer to not have to take it off the ceiling….yet again.

Thanks!
Skyla

]]> By: Skyla http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-23646 Skyla Tue, 09 Dec 2008 03:46:40 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-23646 Try this site for the rayon cover: http://www.grandbrass.com/catalog.cfm?category=Wire&subcategory=All My lamp did not paint up right, followed directions, but it lost it's "shine", but it still is fine, would not recommend spray painting. May have found a pull down handle for it, and found the rayon cover on the above site. Now we have to replace the lightbulb fixture, so this little project is turning out to be rather unpleasent. Found out the spray paint goes thru the little holes in the shade (opps), so that was fun too. :( Since the lamp is now a different shine, I have to paint the track it was in, which should prove interesting as I have to do it ON the ceiling...sigh. Try this site for the rayon cover: http://www.grandbrass.com/catalog.cfm?category=Wire&subcategory=All

My lamp did not paint up right, followed directions, but it lost it’s “shine”, but it still is fine, would not recommend spray painting. May have found a pull down handle for it, and found the rayon cover on the above site. Now we have to replace the lightbulb fixture, so this little project is turning out to be rather unpleasent. Found out the spray paint goes thru the little holes in the shade (opps), so that was fun too. :( Since the lamp is now a different shine, I have to paint the track it was in, which should prove interesting as I have to do it ON the ceiling…sigh.

]]> By: Donna http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-22769 Donna Thu, 04 Dec 2008 00:14:48 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-22769 I need to replace the cord on mine. anyone have any ideas on where to acquire it? I need to replace the cord on mine. anyone have any ideas on where to acquire it?

]]> By: Skyla http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-22494 Skyla Mon, 01 Dec 2008 22:09:46 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-22494 I'm trying to replace parts to one of the Progress Sophisticates line, #4588, both the bottom glass and the pull down handle are broken. I inherited my parents 1963 home, and this light is not only retractable, they put it on a track that enables it to move back and forth along the length of the dining table too! I hope to find something that will at least make it "look" better. I need to clean the white cord/cable, it is covered with decades of dust and black oil furnace residue. and the brass coloring needs repainting(?). Any suggestions?? Skyla I’m trying to replace parts to one of the Progress Sophisticates line, #4588, both the bottom glass and the pull down handle are broken. I inherited my parents 1963 home, and this light is not only retractable, they put it on a track that enables it to move back and forth along the length of the dining table too! I hope to find something that will at least make it “look” better. I need to clean the white cord/cable, it is covered with decades of dust and black oil furnace residue. and the brass coloring needs repainting(?). Any suggestions??

Skyla

]]> By: BionicBeauty http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-16050 BionicBeauty Fri, 17 Oct 2008 11:52:19 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-16050 I had no idea what a retractable kitchen light was until I started reading Pam's site. We bought a 1960 home a few months back and I was out in the laundry room (outside, attached to our carport) when I looked up and finally took notice of the light hanging in the rafters... I exclaimed "I wonder if this is one of those retractable thingys everyone's always talking about!" Yeppers. It's sitting out there all stapled up to the ceiling. Not in the best shape and the glass is missing so now I'm in search of a glass shade to add to it. Then I can refinish it and move in back into the house in a place of honor. :) Jami I had no idea what a retractable kitchen light was until I started reading Pam’s site. We bought a 1960 home a few months back and I was out in the laundry room (outside, attached to our carport) when I looked up and finally took notice of the light hanging in the rafters… I exclaimed “I wonder if this is one of those retractable thingys everyone’s always talking about!” Yeppers. It’s sitting out there all stapled up to the ceiling.

Not in the best shape and the glass is missing so now I’m in search of a glass shade to add to it. Then I can refinish it and move in back into the house in a place of honor. :)

Jami

]]> By: digitalhuckle http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-13692 digitalhuckle Tue, 09 Sep 2008 03:57:06 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-13692 Pam, I actually own a P 4121. It is currently in my garage, it used to be in my breakfast room but I took it out a few years ago. I have been thinking of re-wiring it and seeing if I can polish it up or spray paint it white and use it somewhere else in the house. I'll try to take some pics of it to post to my Flickr account. Pam, I actually own a P 4121. It is currently in my garage, it used to be in my breakfast room but I took it out a few years ago. I have been thinking of re-wiring it and seeing if I can polish it up or spray paint it white and use it somewhere else in the house. I’ll try to take some pics of it to post to my Flickr account.

]]> By: laradevil http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-13689 laradevil Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:35:50 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-13689 Hello - I've been browsing on this site over the past year and thank you for all the great ideas. I have a Pull lamp that works great - that I may need to part with. :( Is there a place to post that on this site? I moved into a 1959 House last December and have been making my Retro Renovations ever since. I also just found a great box of 50s/60s wallpaper in the basement... Among many other unique finds. Thanks Hello - I’ve been browsing on this site over the past year and thank you for all the great ideas. I have a Pull lamp that works great - that I may need to part with. :( Is there a place to post that on this site? I moved into a 1959 House last December and have been making my Retro Renovations ever since. I also just found a great box of 50s/60s wallpaper in the basement… Among many other unique finds. Thanks

]]> By: SurfaceToAirMedia http://retrorenovation.com/2008/09/07/great-retro-pull-down-lights-for-your-kitchen-from-progress-vintage-1961/comment-page-1/#comment-13666 SurfaceToAirMedia Mon, 08 Sep 2008 11:00:43 +0000 http://retrorenovation.com/?p=4258#comment-13666 Oooo...very much looking forward to the rest of the catalouge. Our house was built in 1961, and I've been searching for something to replace the monstrosity of a dining room chandelier. Have been checking eBay faithfully, too - just trying to find the right balance of "awesome" and "budget." :) Thanks for posting this! Oooo…very much looking forward to the rest of the catalouge. Our house was built in 1961, and I’ve been searching for something to replace the monstrosity of a dining room chandelier. Have been checking eBay faithfully, too - just trying to find the right balance of “awesome” and “budget.” :) Thanks for posting this!

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