chrome - Anything In Particular

Black and Silver Astral Telecom “Fab” Push Button Desktop Telephone

Jon Nix — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 23:27:37 +0000

A little bit glam and a whole lot of plastic, this is the Astral "Fab phone" which is push button telephone dating from the late 1980s and featuring last number re-dial, an electronic ringer and a shape which is all of its own. It's a combination of rounded body and angular handset with the former in a glossy black finish and the latter in a mirrored silver finish, chrome-like in appearance.

In good condition with some superficial signs of use this is an unusual telephone from a time when such items were as much decorative as functional, and certainly said something about the person and the household.

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Vintage Chrome and Black Targetti Sankey Gooseneck Desk Lamp, made in Italy

Jon Nix — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 11:43:57 +0000

A super cool looking chrome and black gooseneck desk lamp, believed to be made in Italy by Targetti Sankey and dating we think from the 1970s. With its contrasting chrome and black design and ball shaped shade with distinctively shaped "venting" it's a definite eye catcher, whether switched on or not. It is also built with impressive quality and attention to detail. For example, instead of a standard rubber or plastic gooseneck tube, this lamp has a rubberised section to the neck which is then enclosed within a spring-like coil of metal, making what would otherwise simply be a functional aspect of the lanmp into an interesting feature. It points also to a high attention to the design and manufacture of the lamp.

The lamp does have a defect - there's a dent to the shade, an almost flat spot where it has had an impact of some kind - and although it is a shame, it does not detract too much from the look of the lamp and is not in an immediately obvious location. The high reflectivity of the chrome shape also helps to distract. The base is composed of a black enamelled cast metal with a plastic underside and has a white, solid feeling swtich.
Otherwise, the lamp is in good condition, with only minor signs of age and wear. It measures approximately 48cm (19 in.) in height with the gooseneck fully extended, of which 18cm (7 in.) is the rubberised gooseneck portion. The base has an approximate diameter of 15cm (6 in.) and a depth of 3.5cm (1½ in.). The ball shade has an opening of 11cm (4¼ in.) and an overall diameter of approximately 14cm (5½ in.). It takes a standard bayonet bulb ftting.

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Large Original 1970s Chrome Desktop Newton’s Cradle aka “Ballrace” – Loncraine Broxton

Jon Nix — Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:46:59 +0000

A rare opportunity to purchase an original boxed chromed Newton's Cradle. This is the Loncraine Broxton "Ballrace" which made its first appearance in the late 1960s. This one probably dates from the 1970s and is a very good example. Whilst it was originally sold as a kind of novelty item for the executive desktop or the living room, it now has genuine appeal both as a decorative item in itself and as a design piece from its era. In many ways, it might almost be said to be iconic.

This one is in good order cosmetically - just a few signs of age and use and some very minor signs of pitting to the chrome. The box is in good shape too, with minimal wear, considering its age.

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Vintage Chromed Kinetic Balance Novelty Desk Toy – Horse Rider

Jon Nix — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 10:57:00 +0000

A commonplace item back in the 1970s and 1980s, these "executive" novelties have a certain charm to them even now. This one is the "horse rider" variant and rocks back and forth on its podium until it runs out of steam, and is of good weight and construction (unlike some contemporary wannabees).

Measures approximately 11cm (4¼ in.) in length (from back foot to nose), with a height of 7.5 cm (3 in.)
The podium measures approximately 5cm / 2 in. in height with a diameter of 2cm (¾ in.) Has some signs of both age and use but generally in very good condition.

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Vintage Sarome “Tabic” Table Lighter in Black, Aluminium and Chrome, 1960s

Jon Nix — Wed, 08 Feb 2023 13:21:45 +0000

A vintage 1960s "Tabic" table lighter made by Sarome and presented in a black and aluminium colour scheme with chrome parts. It's a lighter, yes, but it's really all about that very distinctive sixties look, and this item makes for a very interesting decorative object in its own right.
Measuring approximately 14cm high (5½ in.) and with a basic diameter of 6.5cm (2½ in.), the lighter is in good condition considering age and use. There is some minor surface wear to the black enamel and wear to the base, as well as to the underside of the aluminium sections, but overall it is in good shape. As far as functionality is concerned, it sparks, but has not been tested beyond that.

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Set of Vintage Airweigh Letter Balance Scales with weights and original box

Jon Nix — Thu, 17 Nov 2022 13:35:33 +0000

A set of vintage weighing scales, dating from the 1950s and made by the Universal Woodworking Co. of Birmingham. Designed to be used for weighing letters and printed papers for inland posting, the scales measure up to 8oz with the weights provided in various configurations, with the largest at 4oz and the two smallest at ½oz. The base is of a heavy black metal construction with chromed scales for the item to be weighed and the weights to be placed. The dial and cost guide is in good condition. Overall, a good-looking and unusual item complete with its original box in very good condition and a good example of packaging of the era.

The scales measure approximately 24 cm across the front by 8.5 cm deep by 8 cm high (9½ in. by 3¼ in. by 3 in. approx.) and are in good used condition.

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Vintage Prova Gooseneck Desk Lamp in Avocado Green – 1970s, Italian

Jon Nix — Wed, 28 Sep 2022 13:55:23 +0000

An unusual Italian-made desk lamp in an unusual colour, this Prova lamp almost certainly dates from the 1970s - the decade that brought us avocado bathroom suites and more besides. Aside from the colour, the lamp has a few other design quirks - a more than slightly oversized fluted shade with "vent" and chrome band detailing, a base with a centrally-placed switch and chromed sides, and a white plastic underside "cover" which seems deliberately oversized so that it's a visible feature rather than just simply covering the underneath of the base.

The lamp is fully functioning and measures 40cm height (15¾ in.) with the gooseneck fully extended vertically, the shade has a front diameter of 14cm (5½ in.) and a length of 18cm (7 in.), and the base has a diameter of 13.25cm (5¼ iu.) and a height of 2.5cm (1 in.). In terms of condition, it's not bad at all - the shade is in good shape overall bar a couple of minor dents and slight loss of shape, the chrome work is good, and the plastic base is sound despite a few cracks to it. None of these defects are very noticeable, but there is a small loss of paint surface to the top of the base, which you will see in the close-up photographs of the base. It's not awful and we don't deem it bad enough to warrant a repair which might stand out more.

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1950s Articulated Pifco Desk Lamp in Dark Cream and Chrome

Jon Nix — Sat, 03 Sep 2022 15:06:10 +0000

As adjustable and as handsome as an Anglepoise - in our opinion- this 1950s Articulated Pifco Desk Lamp in dark cream and chrome, is perfect when a much smaller footprint and more compact design is required. Featuring articulation via two ball and socket joints, the lamp provides a very high degree of flexibility contained within a visual package of stylish conical shade and circular base in cream, and armatures and joints in chrome. If you'd like something a little bit different from an Anglepoise or need a smaller vintage desk lamp with a bit of style to it, then we think this should be a potential candidate ;)

The shade is not mishapened and there are no major dents or dings, and the chrome is in good condition considering the age of the item. The base has some minor scrapes and rusting - particularly to the bottom edges and near the switch - but nothing that undermines the good looks of the lamp and we don't feel that we would undertake to renovate these. What we have done, however, is re-wrire the lamp with an unobtrusive black flex which is carefully complemented by the colour of the switch housing, itself a replacement for the original which was beyond repair. The end result is a subtle reinvigoration.

The buyer may wish to renew the felt on the base (pictured). Post re-wiring we decided in the interests of originality and minimal intervention to reinstate the worn felt which is perfectly adequate in use but, depending on the buyer's preference, could be easily replaced with new felting (the moulded shape for the felt to be adhered to is present and serviceable).

Please note: this lamp will be shipped without a bulb, but it takes a standard bayonet fit.

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Very Original Black Bauhaus Styled Bullet Desk Lamp with Ball Joint Shade

Jon Nix — Fri, 08 Jul 2022 11:59:44 +0000

A very original Bauhaus-styled black desk lamp with chrome hinged arm which rotates through 180 degrees and a distinctive bullet-shaped shade and ball and socket joint for adjusting its position. In full working condition and with original contrasting red switch, the lamp has bags of character and a striking design. Almost certainly originally made in continental Europe (German or French, possibly), and dating from at least as far back as the 1950s, the lamp has general signs of age and use throughout (including some minor dents to the shade). It has not been restored since the patina adds so much to its appeal, but it has been carefully cleaned.

The curved arm measures approximately 25cm (10 in.) in length and the lamp stands at a maximum height of 41cm (16 in.) with the arm positioned vertically. The base is 15cm (5½ in.) in diameter with a height of 2.5cm (1 in.). The shade is 15cm (6 in.) in length with an aperture diameter of 13cm (5 in.). The bulb holder is a large bayonet style and the lamp currently has a cable of approximately 120cm (47 in.) length. The underside of the base has an opening for wall-mounting the lamp. The wiring has been renewed, but as with all electrical items, an inspection and safetly test in your own environment (PAT testing in the UK) is recommended.

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Orange Louis Poulsen “LamPetit” lamp designed by Bent Gantzel-Boysen/Verner Panton, 1966

Jon Nix — Fri, 22 Oct 2021 10:40:54 +0000

Unashamedly orange and unashamedly blocky, this is the "LamPetit" desk lamp sold by Louis Poulsen and designed in 1966. Attribution is slightly confusing for the LamPetit, sometimes it is given to in-house designer Bent Gantzel-Boysen but there is also some evidence that it was designed by leading light of the mid-century movement, Verner Panton. Either way, the "LamPetit" is distincive - it is effectively two rectangular blocks connected by two pivoting and extendable armatures, the larger (and heavier, it contains a transformer) of the two blocks being the base, but there's a lot more to it than that. The genius of the design allows the base to sit horizontally or vertically, on a desk or table top, or be mounted to a wall, whilst the "shade" on its two arms can pivot to the desired angle for any of these orientations. The base measures approximately 12 x 7 cm x 7 cm (5 in. x 2¾ in. x 2¾ in.).

A push button switch, built into the base, is a three-position affair: cycling through "off", "low" intensity, and "high" intensity. The aluminium reflector built into the shade amplifies the light to provide significant illumination from what is a deceptively small source. The two extending armatures, chromed brass with colour-matched plastic allow for additional positioning possibilities, with a minimum height of 20cm (8 in.) to 40cm (16 in.) approximately.

The transformer built into the base allows 220-240V to be output as 12V so that the LamPetit can take a standard 25W or less motoring bulb with a B15 (small bayonet) fitting. The lamp is currently cabled to a two-pin European plug which can be used with an adaptor or replaced for usage elsewhere.

This particularl LamPetit is in very good working condition, with very limited signs of superficial wear and tear which are to be expected for an item of its age and use. There are no chips or cracks to the plastics and only extremely minor cosmetic scuffs and scrapes generally. An eye-catching and unusual light which would grace any mid-century home and which is sure to attract attention despite its relatively small footprint, no matter how you use it.

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