Retro Renovation » 60s lighting

Where to find reproduction midcentury lighting – another source

pam kueber — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 08:00:47 +0000

With the growing popularity of all things retro, it’s great to see more manufacturers bringing authentic reproductions back to life. Case in point: Rejuvenation – long known for it Arts & Crafts, Colonial Revival, and Deco-era reproductions – introduced its first off-shoot brand “Satellite” last year.

Satellite features a growing range of lighting – like the pendants above – as well as hardware, shades and other products. To come up with the designs the company scours “the internet and our extensive collection of 1950s and early 1960s trade catalogs to rediscover and reintroduce the coolest lighting and hardware of the era,” explained Bo Sullivan, Rejuvenation senior designer and historian.

Want to win a pair of Aeros, Cerise or Orbis pendants of your very own – a $250 value? Be sure enter our Found Objects…Found Art contest thru Jan. 29. Thanks, Satellite – and especially to the fabulous Nicole – for bringing these products back to life, and for your support of this year’s contest!

SatelliteModern.com

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Susan and her Granada Hills Greg-inspired Moe light — I see us all heading straight into the heart of the 60s!

Pam Kueber — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 07:59:22 +0000

Hi Pam,

Thanks to Greg and his Moe catalogs, I now know that this is a Moe Venetian featured in their 1965 catalog. I picked this up at our local Re-Store for $10! It’s in great shape! I thought I’d share, since it ties in with this topic…

- Susan

Thanks, Susan – very cool! … And look at the purple (plum? lavendar? aubergine? dag, I have to research this) walls in that ‘65 photo. Have you seen how all the magazines and catalogs are starting to show purple. We’re heading into the ’60s now! Image: Vintage Moe.

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Jimmy – and Tikimama – both like Primelight’s outdoor lighting

Pam Kueber — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:00:40 +0000

Our series on lights spotted by Jimmy continues:

Also, I don’t know how much your site goes into the late 60s/70s, but these globe lights they sell are just too good to not be mentioned! If you go into the indoor decorative section of the catalog, page 7A has a whole listing of hanging globes, ellipses, even cubes! And my favorite part is that they even have that funky smoked glass with chrome stem that personally reminds me of a 70s ski resort I go to every winter. Also, (I know I’m rambling, sorry!) check out page 15 for clusters of hanging globes, and pages 35 and 41 of the outdoor section for the post and wall versions of the globes.

Tikimama liked these, too, adding in comment when Jimmy and the first batch of light were introduced:

Wow! Great resource…and from such a youngun’! It’s definitely worth taking a look at the whole catalog (although Jimmy’s right – their website is truly dated!). I thought there were a lot of indoor fixtures that had a very mod vibe, but even more exiting were the outdoor fixtures! I’ve had a hard time finding anything I like for the outside of our home, but here there are lots of clean-lined options. Even dark-sky friendly lights (something very important where I currently live near Joshua Tree National Park, but also something relatively easy we could all do to lessen light pollution).

There are powder-coated color options – lots! – even pink!!!

Lisa in Yucca Valley (but in Upland as of next week!) CA

Powder-coated Pink outdoor lights – my heart be still! Thanks, Jimmy! Thanks, Lisa!

–> Click thru for a bundle of additonal catalog pages –>

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Pam Kueber — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 07:58:15 +0000

This ceiling fixture is really beautiful. It would look great in a foyer, a den, a bedroom or a living room. Hey, even a kitchen. This light is also another example of how mainstream middle class mid century modern – could demonstrate incredible artistry. Simply gorgeous.

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Great retro pull down lights for your kitchen, from Progress vintage 1961

pam kueber — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 08:00:55 +0000

I am very excited about my latest vintage marketing material – a large catalog from Progress lighting dated December 1961.

The catalog is about equally split between retro groovy… southwestern style “Rancher”…colonial Americana… and viva Las Vegas, which is something that we have not dived into too much on this blog so far — but I feel an itch coming on!

Reading through I’ve learned that these lights were not called “retractable” — which is the term that I have been using. Rather, they were simply called “pull downs”.

And the copywriting from the Progress catalog is very fun:

Pull-downs in refreshing variety, with matching ceiling pieces and other coordinates… In this section, smartly sophisticated metal; nonchalance and warmth of wood in both walnut “slats” and “matchsticks”; “Ranchers”, large-scale and handsome as the Southwestrn originals; authentic charming and heart-warming are the “Early Americans”… Light moves from its age-old stationary position and becomes a faithful service of satisfying mobility, ease and luxury….

Today, I’ve featured two of the more modern lines: (1) The Sophisticates, and (2) Mardis Gras. I also have the price list, and it looks like the largest pull downs sold for $35-$40 at the end of 1961. Today, these can still be found on ebay, in many varieties. If you’re lucky, you can get a great price for a very mint fixture, but sometimes the bidding gets going on a desirable piece. In general – I predict these will continue to get hotter and hotter in the marketplace.

My Progress catalog has some 40+ pages of fixtures in all to showcase — many of them really terrific — so stay tuned for more!

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Totally groovy retro lighting from Primelight

Pam Kueber — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 08:00:14 +0000

Retro globe lights from Primelight

This is the second in our series of lighting alternatives spotted by our youngest retro renovation reader, Jimmy Walsh. This is Section B — so groovy. Be sure to look at the cubes! The more I do this blog, the more I realize that I also need a 60s and then a 70s house to decorate. Sigh.

All of our retro renovation lighting resources to date are now available on my:

New “Lighting Page” – all retro lighting resources and options archived here!

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Retro lighting: A great ceiling fixture from Liz’s Antique Hardware

Pam Kueber — Wed, 12 Mar 2008 11:28:56 +0000

I received a catalog from Liz’s Antique Hardware today and spotted this reproduction ceiling fixture right away. I love that it has pin-dots in both the glass shade facing bottom, and on the aluminum housing itself. A great kitchen or mudroom fixture.

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50s lighting – wonderful bathroom sconces – today’s ebay pick

Pam Kueber — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 12:12:19 +0000

For those of you on the hunt to reno your vintage bath, these sconces are delightful. I can imagine them to the right and left of a mirror. Or, if you have two sinks, one above each.

This seller always features beautiful stuff, very high quality and generally not cheap. Whether you go for these or not, the style is one to watch for you in your treasure-hunting travels.

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50s and 60s lighting from today’s Remcraft – reader Brian sends this retailer our way

Pam Kueber — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 15:19:58 +0000

Brian, a new reader, emailed about a great company — Remcraft — that produces 50s and 60s style lighting — much of it near-exact replica’s of their vintage styles. (See them in the 1953 pink Formica kitchen we looked at just a few weeks ago.) Remcraft is a client of Brian’s, he is a graphic designer who himself is renovating a midcentury home. Here’s what he had to say:

Hi Pam,

Today was the first time I’d ever seen your site, and I think it’s an awesome resource.

As I mentioned, these fixtures are great because they are still made like they were in the 50’s…with some convenience and technology updates (thumbscrews versus wing nuts, and alternative energy-saving lamp options). They are usually found at lighting dealers and showrooms, and the company usually says “contact the factory for a dealer near you”. Their toll-free number is 800-327-6585, and their bullet page is: http://www.remcraft.com/bullets/index_rr.html

The Swedish Modern series comes in four different sizes. The largest size retails for around $50 (one-light), $90 (two-light), and $130 (three-light).

The Classic Bullet series comes in one size, retailing for around $55 (one-light) and $100 (two-light).

The Up/Down Light retails for around $100.

I prefer the satin aluminum finish, but several others are available – with surprisingly little impact on the price of the fixture.

Please let me know if you need more information.

Thanks!

Brian

No — Thank YOU, Brian, for this great resource, and welcome to the retroreno clan!

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Not so atomic 50s pole lamp – today’s ebay pick

Pam Kueber — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 11:39:14 +0000

I love retro pole lamps from the 50s and 60s. This one is quite different from the atomic norm – the seller calls it “Hollywood Regency meets Eames,” and I kind of agree.

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