I love the excess of this lighting fixture. Every millimeter of it, decorative.

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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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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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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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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 bullet or cone lights

I think we now have identified our youngest reader – and someone who likely will be far ahead of all soon, in terms of retro renovating knowledge: Jimmy Walsh.

Jimmy sent in today’s tip, about Primelite bullet (or cone) lights available today. When I asked for his “retro renovation story,” Jimmy said:

Well, I don’t really have a retro renovation story haha. I’m 17 but have always been fascinated by mid-century architecture from the 40s all the way up to the early 80s. I’m going to study architecture in school, and hope to aid in bringing mid-century elements back into modern architecture, a movement which as you know is certainly already underway. Anyway, I hope you find a place for those light fixtures!

Meanwhile, here is Jimmy’s lighting find — and there’s a second one I’m working on, too:

I just wanted to share this one seller whose merchandise, although hard to find behind their dated website, is absolutely fantastic for retro renovators! I included a link to their online catalog, which has a whole section just on bullets! Once you click into the section on bullets, the two pages that caught my eye the most were 71 and 75. Those seem to be the most relevant.

http://www.primelite-mfg.com/catalog/Catalog.html

Anyway, sorry the message was so long, but I really wanted to share these resources!

Sincerely,
Jimmy Walsh

Thanks, Jimmy! Keep the recommendations coming!

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60s Blue Caroma bathroom mirror & cupboard, vintage lights, and a mint in box egg slicer

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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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