Edwardian rise and fall lights

[plasticpigeon]

I am fascinated by these early rise and fall lights, especially the ones with electrical flex that doubles up as the rope for the pulleys. Anyone know where these would have been used?? Over a dining table perhaps, or in a kitchen over a scrub to table for food prep? I would like to buy one as I like things that move and are a bit out of the ordinary, but don't want to put it in a inappropriate place. I'm guessing over a dining table.

Here is an example of what I mean. I've seen a few mostly with 2 downlighters.

Here is a link with some more.

http://www.belowstairs.co.uk/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_Lighting_40.html

 

[jocelyn plummer]

We had ours over the dining table.! Writing desk might be another option!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Ooh, they're lovely. Not seen them before - how interesting!

 

[88v8]

Aah, that will work. I've seen rise & falls with ridiculous plastic cable, it must be silk twist.
They can be useful over a suitably large table to make the lighting more intimate, but I've always thought this works best with a dimmer. When raised they cast their light more widely, and so by obviating the need for separate local and general lights, can stand in the stead of more than one fitting.

I put one in the bathroom of our last house (top rh of photo) although it was more of a novelty really. The ceramic globe is filled with sufficient lead shot to counterbalance whatever fitting is used, the balance is not as critical as with a sash window. The globe+pulley+cordguide comes up on eBay occasionally, indeed somewhere I have a box of the things I shall never use here.

Ivor

 

[Flyfisher]

As a child, I remember friends of my parents having a rise and fall lamp over their dining table. I don't recall it being as lovely as the one pictured above, I'm pretty sure it was a modern plastic thing (it was the 60s) but the principle was the same.

I distinctly remember it due to the association of being told off for my enthusiam in exercising it. Kids eh?

Perhaps they fell out of fashion when lamp dimmers became widely available, as 88v8 noted?


Edit: On the other hand, perhaps they have not fallen out of fashion - a quick search reveals that modern variants are widely available:
http://www.lights4living.com/rise-and-fall-ceiling-lights/c129

 

[Owain]

Quite useful if you have high ceilings or over a stairwell, you can hook the light down with a window-pole to change the bulb or, for ladies present, dusting.

 

[88v8]

And to go with your period light fitting...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25-Vintage-style-filament-light-bulb-old-fashioned-Edison-40w-E27-screw-/170969643571?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&hash=item27ce95ba33
and
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/25-Vintage-style-squirrel-cage-filament-light-bulb-old-fashioned-Edison-40w-/170969643557?pt=UK_Light_Bulbs&hash=item27ce95ba25
... bargain...

Ivor

 

[Zebra]

Gosh, I gasped out loud at the price of these bulbs!!

 

[plasticpigeon]

A tenner each effectively. I could be tempted if I really wanted to make a feature of a light fitting in a particular room. I wonder what the light output would be for my 40W input though!

 

[88v8]

Somewhere, I have two bulbs of that ilk, BNIB as they say. Bought in the early 70s from a hardware shop that was closing down. They are a thing of beauty, too lovely to hide inside a shade. I believe they can last very many years, but as with all things irreplaceable I hesitate to use them and so they have lurked within various cupboards the last 40 years.
Light output is perhaps not their strong suit.

Ivor

 

[robgil]

Apparently those light bulbs dont last all that long , they are lovely though.
I have one of those lamps in the above photo , bought it on a whim. We cannot use it as our ceilings are so low.

 

[Owain]

Apparently those light bulbs dont last all that long , they are lovely though.
I have one of those lamps in the above photo , bought it on a whim. We cannot use it as our ceilings are so low.

Perhaps you could use it in a corner of a room, over a low table, where you won't walk into it?

 

[plasticpigeon]

Or alternatively please let me know if you ever want to get sell it!

 

[robgil]

I will never fit it, There really is no place in our cottage that we can fit it as it would simply be too low.
If you wish to buy it you are more than welcome, I shall try and post some photos later tonight if I get a chance.

Edit - It's not the brass one , it is the white china one full of lead shot.

 

[robgil]

A tenner each effectively. I could be tempted if I really wanted to make a feature of a light fitting in a particular room. I wonder what the light output would be for my 40W input though!

I didnt see the quantity, perhaps a forum group buy?

 

[robgil]

This is my lamp. Sorry for the delay, it was packed away over in the cottage. I have not seen anything like it on the net, it is quite old, possibly Edwardian, it looks French but then again they all do. The shade is strange in that it 'clangs' when being put down, more of a metallic sound than glass,I think it is glass though. It is full of lead shot and small metal gratings, I would say filings but they are much bigger than filings. Every thing works, It's not perfect and does show signs of age but nothing that would prevent it from functioning properly although it could be doing with some oil around the pulley wheels. I gave 80 quid for it which I thought was cheap at the time considering how much people ask for them , However the main reason I bought it was that I simply could not find another one like it or any reference to anything like it anywhere.

The holes where the rope comes out is where the thing mounts via two screws to the ceiling , I just put rope in there to hang it off my dresser.

 

[Moo]

What a gorgeous lamp - I covet it!
(And I like the dresser, too. I want something similar for my kitchen. Where did you get it?)

 

[robgil]

The dresser is lovely, it was given to me by a friend who was moving abroad. It is quite well made but I ended up painting it with I think Laura Ashly water based egg shell in duck egg blue. The top of it has been waxed with a simple mix of melted bees wax and pure turps, it takes a few coats over a few months to get a nice golden glow from the wax but it is worth it. I am thinking about replacing the drawer pulls and cupboard door handles as some are damaged but I dont want to go too twee with it. Of course it has the obligatory 2 year olds fingerprints and scribblings all over it.

 

[plasticpigeon]

That is a really nice light, the best single pendant rise an fall I've seen!

 

[robgil]

I thought it was quite unusual as I have not seen one like it, I will never use it so if you are interested (or anyone else) I would be quite happy to pass it on and hopefully get my money back on it. I would be happy to take more detailed photos perhaps with it working (I would have to put a plug on it and plug it into the mains) or I could use a multimeter to make sure every thing is connected properly. Or if you are close pop in for a look and I shall put the kettle on.