Primarily Petroliana Shop Talk Forums Shop Talk Petroliana Forums General Petroliana Discussion Porcelain enamel light fixures. Checked for info in the forum,but can't find any.

Have some porcelain enamel light fixutes that I was told were from the 30s or 40s. I am curious if anyone else has seen these and has any info on them. Are they from this time frame. Any chance they could be fakes. Please let me know what you think. Thanks --Joe

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[This message has been edited by Joe (edited 01-04-2006).]

Joe, In my opinion, what you have are real....not fakes. We have had quite a few of these same lights thru here over the years. Would guess the dates might be closer to late 40's-50's. Maybe even into the 60's? In todays nostalgia craze.....I've seen look-a-likes being used in Outback, Ruby Tuesday restaurants to name a few. The new ones are made much cheaper and can be easily distinguished.

I HAVE A WHOLE STACK OF THESE SHADES STILL IN A BOX DATED 1961. THEY WERE FROM MY GRANDFATHER'S HOUSE...ATTIC FIND!
WHEN I EXPLORE THE ABANDONED ASYLUMS THESE PORC SHADES ARE EVERYWHERE! I'VE TAKEN A FEW FROM THE FLOORS, BUT MOST REQUIRE A TALL LADDER TO GET. I CALL THIS STYLE THE "CLASSIC" LAMPSHADE.

DOC @ TAG.W

Hi there, thanks for your replies. It was my thought the ones which are flared out were older and the later models had the bend and 2-3" rims toward the bottom of the lamp shade, but I guess I am not to savy on them. Are there any identifying marks or numbers on them somewhere I should be looking for? Came from an old Shell Oil gas station. American Garage, I assume you mean you pulled the lamp shades through the floor by the wire they were hanging from then? These are hanging shades correct? Anyways, not sure how to put a year on them other than to investigate the station more. Let me know what you think.

ACTUALLY, THE ONES I SNAGGED FROM THE ASYLUMS WERE JUST LYING ON THE FLOOR....NO SNIPPING OF WIRES. WOULD ASSUME THAT SOMEONE ELSE JUST GRABBED IT TO PULL IT DOWN AND THEN LEFT IT. I HAVE SEEN SMALL GOLD WATER RELEASE DECALS ON SOME OF THESE EITHER ON THE INSIDE WHITE OR OUTSIDE COLOR WHEN N.O.S. UNUSED BRAND NEW.

DOC @ TAG.W

AMERICAN GARAGE,

What are the abandoned asylums you mention. I have not a clue. Thanks.

I have three similar shades that I am looking for threaded fitters to pipe plumb the electric. Are these adapters reproduced?

WE HAVE 3 VERY LARGE ABANDONED NEW YORK STATE DEPT OF MENTAL HYGIENE INSTITUIONS HERE ON LONG ISLAND. I AM AN AVID URBAN EXPLORER. THESE BUILDINGS WERE BUILT FROM THE LATE 1800'S THRU THE 1960'S AT BEST. IN 1996 NY DECIDED TO CLOSE TWO FACILITIES AND CONDENSE WHATEVER PATIENTS THERE WERE INTO ONE LOCATION AND EVEN DOWN SIZE BY MORE THAN 50% AT THAT LOCATION. HENCE LEAVING DOZENS AND DOZENS OF EMPTY UNUSED BUILDINGS TO ROT AND DECAY. IT'S AS IF THE BUILDINGS WERE FULL OF PEOPLE WORKING AND FUNCTIONING AND THE NEXT DAY THE DOORS WERE LOCKED. OVER THE PAST DECADE VANDALS HAVE ABUSED WHATEVER BUILDINGS ARE STILL STANDING, SMASHING DOORS AND WINDOWS TO THE POINT THAT AN EXPLORING PERSON LIKE MYSELF CAN EASILY ENTER AND SWIPE WHATEVER I PLEASE....FIXTURES, SHADES, SIGNS AND SOME CASES ALTHOUGH VERY SCARCE...OIL CANS.

LAST SUMMER I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET LEGALLY A 1950'S BULK PUMP
FROM AN ABANDONED BUILDING AND RESTORE IT. HAVE A LOOK...

http://www.oldgas.com/shoptalk/ubb/Forum4/HTML/001206.html

HOPE I EXPLAINED THAT WELL ENOUGH! LOL!!

DOC @ TAG.W

Whiteflash,

You got me there, hopefully someone else has a thought on it. How did you determine what year yours were from etc?

Holy cow AG, that thing is a beaute. That was a diamond in the rough for sure. I would have it covered up secure/protective like and pumping fuel through it every day just to look at it if it were mine.

HERE'S AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT I MEAN. I TOOK THIS PICTURE ABOUT 10 DAYS AGO WHILE EXPLORING TWO HUGE BUILDINGS BUILT IN THE MID-50'S. THIS IS IN A ROOM ABOVE THE 4TH FLOOR CALLED THE FAN ROOM. I GUESS SOMEHOW THESE HUGE FANS DISPURSE HOT AIR THROUGH DUCTS WHERE NEEDED. THERE'S TWO SHOWING HANGING FROM THE CEILING AND MAYBE A 100 MORE IN VARIOUS AREAS SUCH AS LOADING DOCKS, BASEMENTS, TUNNELS AND LAUNDRY ROOMS.



DOC @ TAG.W

AG,

Yeah those hanging in your pic I see quite often, which made me think the ones I have shown were the older type before they put rim bends in them, but maybe I have it backwards. Anyone have any thoughts on this???

I don't think you can date them based on shape. There are many styles and I'm sure there were many companies producing them.
They aren't terribly hard to find in good condition either. Especially green or white ones. Yellow, red, black and orange shades are all much harder to find.
Now if you find red porcelain shades with a harp made for mounting them on top of a 2" pipe in good condition you'd really have something.

[This message has been edited by Lastgas15 (edited 01-04-2006).]

I see. I wonder how to go about it. I have yet to check for the gold water release decals AG noted.

Most all of the parts for these are available from a commercial electrical supply house like CED or CES on the west coast. These shades are plentiful in agricultural areas as they were used on barns and outbuildings. In my opinion they are worth more if they have the light sockets as yours seem to, because the replacement sockets with the fitting can get expensive.

The most unusual color I have seen is cobalt blue and I have only seen a couple of those that were original. Today you can buy them in all kinds of colors, but often they are painted or powder coated and not porcelain.