Light Up Your Life the Old-Fashioned Way!

Note that you'll have a choice of one bulb, two, three or more depending on the number of arms or sockets in the design. Chandeliers may have as many as twelve arms, while some Mission hanging fixtures have as few as two. The seller should tell you the maximum wattage recommended for the fixture, i.e., 60w per socket. Multiply sockets times wattage, and you can determine how much light the fixture will provide in your room space. Two 40w bulbs will not provide much illumination compared to six 100w bulbs, but two 100w bulbs are about the equivalent of three 60w bulbs.

When you have dimensions, wattage and style determined, you can begin browsing. Be sure to note the shipping methods, taxes, shipping charges, and length of time for delivery. Make sure there is a warranty and a policy for returning the fixture if it is defective or not as it appeared on the web page.

In my next article I will discuss the history of electric lighting for the home, and describe some of the more popular styles, manufacturers, and features.

Here are a few of the vintage and reproduction lighting resources I've found:

Rejuvenation, one of the biggest and best of the reproduction lighting companies. The web site is easily navigated, and their reputation is excellent. Their only retail store is in Portland, Oregon, but they have a well-established catalog business as well.

Vintage Lighting is located in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada. Their lighting fixtures are renovated antiques, not reproductions.

Old World Lights handles a large number of famous manufacturers' lamps from the last century. You'll find Handel, Tiffany, Quoizel, as well as less known names, available here. They are located in Waterloo, New York.

Eagle Emporium's Vintage Lighting, located in Pennsylvania, specializes in restored lighting from the 1860's to the 1940's. Each piece is rewired and refinished by hand by the proprietor.

Vintage Hardware in San Jose, California, is a distributor for Heritage Lighting, which manufactures over 200 styles of reproduction antique lighting. You'll also find their online catalog of hardware for restoring your old home.

Revival Lighting specializes in both reproduction and antique lighting. The reproductions are hand-made by local artisans. Located in Spokane, Washington.

Chameleon Lighting is a wonderful New York City showroom, with vintage lighting as well as other antiques.

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