The amount of gorgeous vintage lighting available out there is unreal. Often, these fixtures are available for great bargains. Reader Jacquie recently left a comment to let us know that she found one such bargain — a NOS Progress Lighting P 5973. My goodness, it is stunning!
Jacquie wrote:
My husband and I just got home from picking up the P 5973! We just put it up outside the front door, looks sooo sharp! Saw it on CL and had to grab it. The man said it was from his parents store in 1950s, and he just brought everything that was left in the store here to Phoenix from Chicago. It was in a Progress box, he said it was the original box that it came in. I am happy!
Yup, that’s an honest to goodness Progress P 5973 porch light — just like the one Pam was drooling over when she wrote 41 midcentury lighting ideas — post lanterns, lamp posts, wall lanterns and landscaping lights in one of her vintage Progress Lighting catalogs. Seeing one of these in real life — in brand-new condition — is like having the vintage catalog illustration come to life. Wouldn’t it be grand if we could still order from vintage magazines and catalogs? Even though Jacquie didn’t send away for her light, we can pretend that somehow the Retro Decorating Gods fulfilled her order, can’t we?
This fantastic vintage light isn’t all that Jacquie and her husband Glen have uncovered.
Jacquie writes:
Glen and I are the major collectors…we are always finding things we love and trying to grab what we can that may have no chance otherwise. I am careful about what I spend on things though, I feel it is getting really crazy out there with some folks and their unrealistic prices for vintage items.
I thought while I was on the computer today, I would send these out to you as well. I am very proud of my collection, and want to have them installed in a new/older home sometime in the near future. That is our hope anyway! They have been lovingly repaired,cleaned, and stored away till that time!
The fridge works great, and is a nice find, although the other appliances in my kitchen right now are GE woodtone brown. Pam helped me figure that out, she wrote a cool little piece about my “Matchy Matchy kitchen” on her site, I sent her pics of my GE cooktop and oven, and then I found the 40-inch range in the same color and had it installed here. I love them all.
Glen really likes the turquoise, so we started to look for a set of those and started buying!! We just enjoy the “hunt for treasure”..I know you know what I mean!
The dishwasher does have the bottom panel, it just wasn’t on there at the time…it is sooo cool!
We also have a turquoise 1964 Hotpoint custom refrigerator in storage, it is in need of repair, but B_E_A utiful…and a 1959 Hotpoint “Woodland” brown fridge waiting to be fixed. Both are in good shape and just need love.
We have two years till this little (and I DO mean little) 1960 house is paid for, and then I can start to think about another one, I want to keep this one for our family once it is free and clear, it will always be there in case someone needs a place to stay. They just better like my vintage decor!! :o) We are in Arizona by the way…hot country!
I have clocks, dishes, (set of Salem Northstar) and other sets, lamps, coffee percolators, canisters, vintage decorative screen blocks Kent Coffey bedroom, Heywood Wakefield beds, Mersman tables, Lane tables, yada-yada-yada, some of it is in use right now and some waiting for its day. Hey… no kids at home.. it’s just Glen and me and the dogs..we love collecting and it is our passion…a really fun hobby for sure.
Jacquie, both your vintage porch light and aqua appliances are to die for. Kudos to you on your careful and patient vintage hunting. And yay on you for being so close to paying off the mortgage! Thanks for taking the time to share a few of your vintage treasures with us.