Words to know
We do this everyday. Here is what we are talking about.
Measurements
Fittings
BASE / TOP / HEIGHT - We need your shade measurements.
CM or INCHES - Confusingly we go between the two, sometimes on the same shade. Older shades are likely to be inches, some modern in cm. Please look for the most round number on the tape measure, we will do the maths. Some styles will come in inches only, for example: French drum shades standard sizes are 10/12/14/16 inches etc.
HOW TO MEASURE:
BASE / TOP - We need the diameter. Please go in a straight line from across the shade.
HEIGHT - We need the vertical* height. Please place your shade on a flat surface and put your tape measure through the top ring to get the correct height measurement.
(* we can work with the slope height but this must be specified clearly at time of ordering. It can be less accurate on certain styles, and it requires us to use pythagoras theorem to make the maths work. Please try to save us a headache. We already use Pi more than is strictly necessary.)
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Fitting is a large circle at the top ring. Sits on a shade carrier. This can be at different heights depending on your needs.
Can be a flexible choice. If you are not sure about the final fittings or are worried about the total height that the shade will take up we would advice you choose this option.
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Set to the base or the top ring of the frame. These will come in BC or ES fittings. (More on that later)
BASE - used for table/standard lamps. Good for stability as the fitting has a washer ring that keep it in place. Usually fitted 4cm within the frame.
PENDANT or TOP - used for ceiling (pendant) lamps as well as wall or some standard lamps. Usually dropped down by about 4cm from the top ring. Stable.
The postion of these can be altered with custom frames.
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The fitting has a break point where it can spin from being table lamp to a ceiling fitting. You can normally see a screw point about halfway.
These are good for flexibility, however they are normally the part of the frame that is weakest and will lose structure. This might be why you are finding your favourite vintage shade looks a little tipsy. We cannot normally fix this element. We can however have the frame remade as an exact replica in the position you use.
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Ususally found on a chandellier or wall light - they fit directly on to the candle shaped bulbs.
Ideal for small shades. They can fail in old models that have used hot bulbs. If the rest of the shade is good, we can normally restore the powder coating.
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Commenly found in North American shades. They are a small screw hole at the center of the top ring which attaches to a harp. The finials often can be decorative or simple brass finishes.
Missing the harp? We can help source the correct size.
The harp is similar to the shade carrier, but the finial allows them to be screwed together for stability.
This is not a standard fitting in the UK., but is easy to have made for you.
SHADE CARRIER / SPIDER / CONVERTER - extras
SHADE CARRIER - only used with a duplex ring. These come in increments of inches., eg. 4/5/6inch
SPIDER - can convert the DUPLEX ring into a top fitting pendant shade. It hooks onto the duplex ring and has an additional small fitting. Perfect in a pinch!
CONVERTER - a small ring that can change a ES (European) fitting into a BC (British) fitting. Excellent for longevity of your shade - means it can go on not just the lamp you bought it for. Most of the standard frames will be supplied like this. The same principle can be applied to custom shades too. Some of our in-house styles have this.
Electric Fittings
BC and ES
BC - Bayonette lightbulbs! The ones you push and twist a quarter. These are common in British lamps, and very common if you are working with vintage.
ES - Larger screw-in lightbulbs! These are normally European manufacture.
This is not a foolproof distinction - larger market access mean that the larger screw fittings are being manufactured to reduce the need for two types of manufacture. We just need to know which on you need.
REWIRE - if you need this services we also need to know which you would like, if you would like to change or if you are taking it to America.
Shapes & Styles
Endless. Please refer to our guide for all the posibilities.