Cadman writes:

Pam, I wanted to tip you and your readers off on some fantastic NOS light fixtures for sale that might be of interest. The trouble? This alert is likely only good for your Iowa readers.

A while back there was a discussion about the in-ceiling square recessed lights and how chrome trim is no longer available (nor it seems more than 1 or 2 common sizes). The Cedar Rapids ReStore has come into old inventory of these lights, still wrapped in 1958 newspaper from the factory and many sealed in their original dusty boxes. There’s an assortment of sizes and glass options as well, and a 5 or 10 spot is all they’re asking. Heavy-Duty all the way around.

We don’t get down to CR too often but managed to make the trek in an icestorm this past weekend on a search for RED carpet and we couldn’t not drop-in.  -Cadman

Thank you, Cadman. Can someone go get these, please!

Above: Progress lights from my fabulous 1961 Progress catalog.

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The wondrous Karmi has found a huge stash of round utility lights on ebay for $9 each. They look to be pretty good matches to the Progress “Circlines” from my 1961 Progress catalog.

Remember these Sophisticates and Mardi Gras?

Read on —>

While the utility rounds don’t ring my bell compared to snazzy atomic stuff, especially in spots where you want to make a big decorative statement, the lights that Karmi has found certainly appear to be authentic to the time period. And, you know, they are growing on me in terms of the simplicity. Very deco.

Thanks, Karmi! Readers, there is more to come from this dynamo. Karmi has kept me up to date on all her renovations — vintage steel cabinets, pink washer and dryer to die for, and much more — I just have to get the posts in order. Canton, Ohio, watch out. Karmi, you get a Tag and smiley too.

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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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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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