Wednesday 26 August 2020

The Iconic Movie Light Company That Started It All.

1896 was the founding year of the Kliegl Brothers Universal Electric Stage Lighting Company with the intent to design and build electric light fixtures for studio and stage. With competition primarily featuring antiquated gas lamps, the brothers quickly gained notoriety and success to become one North America’s most prolific manufacturers of studio lighting.

This particular unit originated in the 40’s and 50’s and has been stripped to bare metal and refinished in an antique bronze patina. It includes a flawless 6 inch Pyrex lens, the ability to adjust the beam from flood to spot intensity and has been converted to a regular household bulb and ceramic socket. It is perched on a collapsible Mole Richardson wheeled stand that extends the lamp upwards from 5 to 9 feet and comes replete with a generous length of electrical cord.

Very cool piece of illumination for artwork and architectural features or just to use as the ultimate reading light - $650.

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Friday 10 July 2020

And now for something completely different…

… for fans of the 50’s, a fan of the fifty’s… newly repurposed and now converted to a unique, one-of-a-kind floor lamp. This Sea-breeze model 5121 articulated floor fan was originally manufactured right here in Toronto, way back when. It has been dismantled, cleaned, waxed and its interior has been reconfigured to accommodate its conversion to a 5 chandelier bulb light fixture. Turns off and on via a click switch and comes replete with a generous length of cord.

It is 13.5” in width, 9” front to back, stands 4ft. and extends to 6. It has a 14sq.” footprint. For 70 years old it has a great glossy patina thanks to a fresh carnauba waxing. Can’t get much more attractive than this… yours for a mere pittance of $425.

If you like “different”, I try not to disappoint. You can check out the many other light fixtures and chandeliers I’ve design/built by an arranged visit to my humble Corktown studio literally a minute’s walk above Toronto’s famous Distillery District.

Note: No, the lights don’t revolve :)



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Thursday 4 June 2020

Hope you don’t like It.

Rarest and Coolest Looking of Movie Spotlights.

This sweet Bantam Super Spot is by far one of the coolest and hardest to find of its kind especially with the optional extension at the back. Comprised of mild steel and aluminum, it was fabricated in the late 30’s and was primarily used as a theatre light.

Generally seated on a very short metal base, I have mounted this particular unit on an original, wheeled, collapsible, extendable (to 9ft) 1950’s period Mole Richardson light stand stenciled with “TDF Studios” - a prominent commercial art and film studio during Toronto’s 60’s and 70’s mad men era. The lamp illuminates a standard, clear 60w bulb turning off and on via a new click switch.

Although not native to the fixture, I have mounted a circular grill to the front as it handsomely compliments the wire cage located on its top which, when opened, provides access to the bulb inside. It also features a push/pull lever at the rear which allows adjustment from spot to floodlight intensity.

To be honest, I don’t mind if I don’t sell this one as it’s well worth keeping.

If you like it as much as I do, it’s yours for $950.


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Wednesday 18 March 2020

Abandoned Over A Century Ago.

Households and businesses in the late 1800’s were primarily illuminated by the visual warmth and radiance of lamps of oil and gas - a tradition soon extinguished by the advent of the electric bulb.

Fresh off my workbench, this reimagined chandelier is entirely comprised of repurposed, ornate brass elements retrieved from a 1892 table-style oil lamp, an equally opulent hanging variation of similar vintage with a translucent, milk glass dome and trimmed with 30 lengths of hand-strung crystals - an authentic tribute to that long lost era of craftsmanship, elegance and purpose.

This fixture is a ceiling mount and hangs at a length of 36 inches from canopy to its furthest crystal with a width of 20 inches. It is lit by a single, larger, circular frosted 60 watt incandescent bulb housed in a dimmable socket to control it’s intensity but will accommodate any type of bulb of similar wattage.

Each component of this chandelier has been meticulously refurbished, polished to a gloss then reassembled to become, like all the fixtures I design/build, a unique and original one-of-a-kind. Priced at $3000.


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Friday 13 December 2019

Eye-catching Industrial Style Medical Light - Ideal for Smaller Spaces

Classic medical floor lamp from 50’s made by Wilmot Castle Manufacturing of Rochester, USA. Fully adjustable and in very good condition - unique statement piece for residence, loft or office - makes an excellent reading light. Features 4 wheeled stand and operates via flick switch. Reflector measures at 12.5” in diameter and the height, when adjusted, is approximately 5 feet, 5 inches - takes any standard style bulb up to 100 watts. It is the ideal size for smaller condos or more confined spaces. Others on-line are charging hundreds more - this one only $350.

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Monday 18 November 2019

40 Years Hidden in a Cardboard Box

1940’s-50’s Bardwell McAlister “Keg-type” movie/stage light, in near brand new condition - spent 40 years in a cardboard box in a grandmother’s basement. The light comes replete in original paint with same period, height adjustable, heavy metal stand, off/on click switch, barn doors (shutters) and has been converted to a modern household bulb and socket. Will take any style modern bulb up to 100 watts. Fully functional fixture rotates from side to side, up and down and features a lever that adjusts its beam to flood or spot intensity. Rare light let alone being found in such pristine condition… $850.

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Friday 25 October 2019

52 Years Old and Never Turned On!

Brand spanking new - so new it has never been plugged in let alone turned on.

In 1967, during the Cold War, the federal government commissioned a Canadian manufacturer to fabricate a quantity of medical field hospital lights on behalf of the Canadian Armed Forces. Beautifully made, light, articulated and simplistically functional, these lamps were easily transported, assembled and utilized.
This particular unit, although manufactured in 1967, is fresh out of the box and has only been assembled to be photographed. Small and compact, it would make an ideal reading light or could be used to illuminate artwork or architectural features in any residence or commercial setting. The height is adjustable from 4 to 7ft. and the unit turns off and on via a conveniently located toggle switch. The shade tilts up and down and from side to side to any angle with ease by manipulating the centrally located handle. Similar units have sold online for $950 - this one just $599.


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