The reclaimer
Skinflint co-founder Sophie Miller explains the pros and cons of using reclaimed and restored vintage lighting
Sophie Miller, co-founder at Skinflint, shares her advice for buying reclaimed lighting
Reclaiming the light…
Each piece of vintage lighting is original, and therefore has its own story. When you buy a vintage light, you’re not only purchasing a unique piece of history, but something with longevity. Lights that were manufactured between 1900-1970 were made before the concept of planned obsolescence became so ubiquitous, meaning they were built to last, and many have actually outlasted the buildings they were designed to illuminate. In a world of throwaway fashion, the purchase of a vintage light places no stress on our resources.
Unique provenance…
At Skinflint we put as much effort into researching our lights’ previous narratives as we do into their restoration. The lights we stock come from a diverse range of locations across the UK, further afield to Europe and America, and we find them wherever they were used – from derelict Victorian asylums to defunct factories; from Helipad landing lights to classic opaline glassware. We have salvaged lighting from iconic sites that were being redeveloped – which is always bittersweet – such as the Rolls Royce factories in Derby, Cockenzie power station in Scotland, and Pyestock, where Concorde’s engine was developed and tested.
What to look for…
Look out for well-known lighting brands such as Revo and Benjamin for enamel ceiling lights, Victor and Coughtrie for industrial lighting, and Mei Elec and Dugdills for machinist lights. Glassware is a little harder to brand and date, but the most important thing is to buy a light you love. If you purchase from a reputable dealer you can be sure you are buying an authentic product.
What to avoid…
If you are thinking of trawling car-boot sales or looking in your grandparents’ shed for a vintage light, then I wouldn’t recommend it – unless you’re on exceptionally good terms with a skilled electrician! It will either prove to be a costly project, or (if you don’t do a professional job) a potentially dangerous one.
How to restore…
Reclaiming a vintage light means keeping the essence of the original light fitting intact, but also ensuring that you can rely on it to work perfectly, and safely, every day. We restore and use as many of the original components as we can, except the bulb holders, wiring and suspension chains.
You simply shouldn’t attempt to refurbish a vintage light yourself – working with electrics is a highly skilled profession, and you should definitely pass on any light you wish to restore to an expert.