We've always hoped to inspire people to restore back to period correct, rather than modernizing. There are communities around the nation that have maintained their historic charm.
Not necessarily my favourite time period, but it brings back memories. My aunt had one of those pull down mid century lights over her kitchen table. My uncle always read the newspaper immediately after eating his dinner. As my aunt cleared the table she would pull down that lamp to right over the table and my uncle would rave about how wonderful the light was and how great it was to be able to read the paper so easily. Recently my daughter was complaining that in her home office she needed a better light and I told her about which was at least 50 years ago and when she asked me that she said “we’ll never find one of those now”. A week or so later on Kijiji (an online market place like Facebook market) we saw an ad for them. There were about 100 available as an old restaurant was being reopened and they were updating the whole interior. I think they still have usefulness in today’s homes. They just need to update the shades (a lot)!
I am currently in escrow on a property built in 1914. I am both excited and scared about some of the things that have come to light during the process. I want to honor the home and restore it. It has knob and tube wiring that has never been updated. The inspector says it is in great condition. Finally got someone in there to look at the heating system last week. The gentleman that performed the inspection seemed in awe of the system and the fact that it is still operational and in working order. It is water radiator system with a boiler. He reported that he couldn't give it a precise age because the boiler was before dates were put on them but said it is pre 1950s and that it could possible be original. A couple of repairs were evident. One room upstairs a radiation was removed and capped off, but the rest of the system is working and the owner who is in his 90s was still using it to heat the house until he moved out December. All of the piping of the radiator system is cast iron insulated with asbestos... Ekkk. He said I can still use the system, it is safe. He warned me that any repairs of the piping would be very expensive due to the asbestos. I may have to abandon the system at some point with a new HAVAC install? Wondering your thoughts on this? I think it is very cool the old system is still operational today. Need to strategize for down the road.
Ionna, That is great to hear! Those old boiler systems were very good at heating the house and there is no reason to pull it out. There's a good chance that the boiler will outlast you! ;-) Are you in the Northeast? Take a look at our earliest video episodes. We used to own an old house built in 1834 that had an ancient boiler. We even gave the boiler its own episode. It would be good if you can find a service man who really understands and appreciates the boiler system. As a homeowner, there are a few things simple things you should do to keep the system running well. Given the choice of HVAC vs. Boiler heat, I'll take boiler every time.
I really like the Victorian lighting. My favorite is the old gaslights. Still see them in some cities like New Orleans. Amazing that they are still working and can convert them to electricity. Keep the same look. Happy St.Patrick's Day.🌈🍀🍀❤️🤍💙
I just removed my empty old, unpainted wood fuse box which must have been in the pantry and looks like your box with the butterfly hinges ( now the bathroom since c 1920s), and still can see the K&T in the 1/2 story above, though it’s been changed like yours. I have a new 200 amp box waiting...and old lighting still installed in 4 places. What’s really cool is that i was able to find 1920s ceiling fixtures to go with the old ones and I’ll be rewiring them. Thank you for a timely video! FYI your porch light is c 1920s-30s. Your entry light appears more Deco, probably 30s or even 40s, as it’s smaller and simpler. My favorites are the ones made in the late 10s!
That was fun. I watched while ate my lunch lol. I would say lightening from the Victorian era would be my favorite. I would write more but in a hurry to run some errands lol. Thank you both ever so kindly.
I still have knob and tube! Obviously my favorite anything is Victorian, including light fixtures. I have 2 original fixtures and one sconce. Excited to see your neighbors home renovation.
Great PSA on wiring setups. I know what to look for now, and update as needed. I definitely enjoyed your original fixtures, and even the questionable ones. My feeling is that the fixtures should at least mimic the era of the house, whatever era that may be. 💚💚🍀🍀
I enjoyed the tour and history of electrics and lighting. Your home has some beautiful light fixtures and some scary to me, electric {lol}. I really like Victorian light fixtures. Blessings.
I really enjoyed this video of the lighting and the differences in the wiring. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming videos regarding the "mystery structure" and the story of your home. I'm not well versed in different generations of lighting but I prefer warm older looking lights vs the cool white lights of today"s LED lights. I find myself unable to relax and I feel tense in that kind of lighting. I love the warm yellow color coming from cutely decorated windows.
I remember that 60's fixture. The very first house my parents owned was in a new suburban neighbourhood in a very small city (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada). For the first time in my life (at age 7) we had indoor plumbing ( sinks, bath tub AND toilet). That light fixture was in two places--over the "breakfast" area of the kitchen and a slightly fancier version in the dining room (too small for a family of five to actually sit down at table but never mind). I became a teenager before we moved from that house--I still remember the address and I'm almost 70.
That must have been pure luxury to have indoor plumbing after living without it! How does one do their business in an outhouse during the dead of Saskatchewan winter?
@@1834RestorationHouse One doesn't. Everyoneused those big round porcelain or enameled pots. Some times they had lids. Our parents would take turns getting us up for one last wee pee, before they went to bed. They were still young enough not to need that middle of the night trip that aging bodies seem to require.
Hi friends! I'm glad you now have info about your place! How exciting! I can't wait until your make the big reveal. I always thought that structure in the back was either for washing clothes or cleaning freshly caught animals for dinner. We shall see soon enough. lol Have a great week. Belle in AZ 😊
Thanks much for showing the knob and tube pictures as well as your wonderful light fixtures. That mid century light must have looked horrible when it was in use. It would be ok in my 1950s rancher, though. I was just checking out original mid century lighting yesterday, such as PH5 pendant lights. Even the reproductions are extremely expensive (to me, anyway). Enjoy that lovely spring weather; I know NE Ohio will get it soon. 😍 🌷
I envy your vintage light fixtures. I love fixtures from that era. I don't have any, but just recently started upgrading the bulbs in my lamps and fixtures to Edison style bulbs. They're LED bulbs, not authentic carbon filament bulbs, but they do have a nice appearance and pleasant warm glow. I'll be anxiously awaiting your upcoming history reveal.
As an electrician that got into it as a kid this is fascinating. I remember seeing bits and bobs of this stuff throughout old houses as a kid learning with my older brother. Seeing it all still in place hooked up and working like it always has is rare though. If it were me and your just using it for lighting, I'd save all of it and convert it over to 24v DC to make it safe. Try to show it off a little even maybe move some of it to surface mount.
Your electrical system is very interesting! I grew up in Boston in a house that originally had gas lights with fixtures in every room, and when electricity arrived on the scene, an electric fixture was fastened to the capped end of each pipe. The entire house was on just one circuit, and each room had just one outlet. This was actually a good thing, so that only one high-draw appliance (toaster, crock pot, etc.) could be plugged in at a time. As we acquired more things like a TV, a higher-amperage fuse replaced the lower-rated one! We were unaware that all the gas pipes were still live until we attempted to replace the kitchen light fixture and heard gas escaping as we unscrewed it. Back then it was "manufactured" gas from coal, which is very deadly. But I didn't die from poisonous gas or an electrical fire, nor from the lead pipes that supplied our water!
I love elegant and ornate light fixtures, I just don't like them turned on. I prefer table lamps with soft lighting. This is a wonderful video and anxiously await the next one.
It’s snowing like crazy now in KC. So glad you’re enjoying spring weather. The house I grew up in had the ‘50s lamp like you showed. It was in our dining room. Take care❤
We live in a 1903 home with many styles incorporated originally. I am presently adding Gothic. I removed all of the ceiling fans for converted gaslights. We use a stand up fan in some rooms in summer. TN. here so I get the humid situation 😉
I enjoyed seeing the old electrical system and the antique lighting! The pieces that you do have are very interesting and beautiful. Even the MCM flying saucer!
Well, now I am just as interested in how you got the information and who had the information...almost as much as all the information concerning the history and Victorian wedding?!! history of the house. Can't wait! We have all been waiting since you moved in. :-)
As far as we can tell, only the faux candle sconces in our guestroom/office are original to the house. They are still in a box, waiting to be re-wired and put back up. The majority of our original electric wiring was enclosed in metal conduit, all since rewired, with a new main panel. We went with new fixtures, but kept everything in the 1920s-1930s aesthetic. You have some nice pieces there. If your house is from 1900 (a transitional period), I would think they are original. Not the flying saucer light, though, lol. In various old house tours I've seen fabulous combo gasolier/electric fixtures, some with custom ceiling medallions to match. The sky is the limit when people are building their dream mansion.
It's always fun to see how the grand homes played with styles and architecture. You can still get cloth covered electrical cord for lamps. Might be good to help restore your original one?
@@1834RestorationHouse They are actually wall sconces hard wired into the wall, with individual brass switches to shut off each one separately. My favorite bit is the faux candle wax drips below where the 'flame' bulb screws in, and original hand painting on the metal 'shield' plates that cover the guts in the wall.
We live in a 1965 ranch. A previous owner turned the walkout basement into a family room ( the fireplace is down there). Our first project after purchase was to redo that area for use as a library. Not one connection of wires was encased in a box. The wires were connected with wire nuts and hanging above the drop ceiling. He has also cut a couple of extension cords and had them wired in to connect some overhead lights. So glad that was our first renovation!
Wow! We're glad you were able to find and fix those problems. That's very common to find unprotected junctions in old houses. We still have several that need to be corrected.
My favorite lighting design would probably be arts and crafts or art deco. Regarding that non metallic sheathed cable (Romex) with the silver sheathing, that is probably from the 1940’s or 1950’s. I started in the trade in the 1960’s and by then we were using non metallic sheathed cable that very much resembles what is used today. I think that the sheathing material is a little different. I’ve mentioned this before but when I was in trade school we were taught how to install knob and tube. Early installations would space the hot and neutral fairly far apart, 6 to 8 inches usually, later the knobs were made to clamp both wires spaced about an inch apart.
Sir, you have a rare skill! Not many people can say they've been certified in knob and tube construction. ;-) My (Mike) childhood home was built in 1962 and I remember seeing the silver coated wiring then so they must have still been making it at that point. Well built knob/tube systems are a thing of beauty!
The guy from the 2nd Empire Strikes Back channel, may want that pull down light. His dad is restoring an 50s house. By the way, Those lights were made and used mainly for playing cards. Many people played cards back then. They could eat dinner, then after, pull the light down for a card game. As you said, not many were made or survived because the cord to pull it up and down would brake and the light would stay in the down position or it just wouldnt pull down anymore. I always thought they were cool lights. They should make them now. I would use it.
Really enjoyed this one too! Friday evening with a glass of wine and Mike and Jeanie! I love the old warm lights. In the house I lived in as a "girl", we had one of those mid century modern light fixtures. My brother ended up breaking it. We still talk about that. Y'all - This Old House should come visit. It would make an interesting show.
As I mentioned on your recap video, the electrical system fascinates me - both the new stuff you've put in and the old fashioned wiring. I've never seen fuses like that with glass and ceramic, but they're actually very pretty. Even when everything is converted to modern electric, I'm sure those old fuse boxes and wires will be a pretty display piece as part of the history of the house. Looking forward to more rewiring videos!
I loved all the beautiful old light fixtures, the one with white cylinder globes, and the bronze finish was my favorite. You two do amazing work , I always look forward to your videos. You asked what my favorite style of lighting is, art nouveau for sure. Actually art nouveau, and victorian complement each other in a beautiful way.
I’m so happy you shared this with us. It was really interesting learning n knowing about our electricity from the time it was introduced till our day. You asked what was our favorite time of era for lighting. Have to say the Victorian n some craftsman style lighting. They we’re so beautiful n ornate. I’m so excited about the many episodes you’ll be sharing. Thank you so much for thinking of all of us. We love you both. ♥️😊👍🌟🌟
Had that mid-century lamp in our small cracker jack box of a house. It didn't like to go "up". There were 4 streets of duplicate cracker jack box houses in our neighborhood. Think they were built in early/mid 50s. About 900 sq ft.
Thank you so much for the lighting video. You have a beautiful home. Glad that there are some lighting elements that are original. I am looking forward to finding out what the mysterious brick construction is in the backyard.
I find it interesting that your breaker panel is outside. In Canada they would ALWAYS be inside, usually in a cellar (which I realize you don't always have in the south). I should think that moisture would be an issue in SC. Also, in Canada you can't get insurance for homes with knob and tube wiring--you MUST re-wire for code (and safety) reasons.
It's fairly common to see outdoor panels in the Southern states. I thought it was weird too the first time I saw them until I realized that all of the new homes were being built that way.
I’m surprised someone didn’t say keep the old breaker boxes for display. I am eager to learn what the mystery structure is.And hopefully as your channel grows old pictures will surface.
Thanks for the lighting episode, especially the knob and tube wiring which I have. I love the outdoor pix, hoping to see that in my backyard soon. How is school going; hope it's going well for you.
I can't really say what time frame my favorite lighting is from, unless you can date Tiffany. Not everyone likes Tiffany as many people equate it with Art Deco ( kind of like the space age of late '50's and early '60's). I do have a question for you. What are the hanging cords that are showing up in your entryway and (I think) your parlor? From a distance they look like electric cords. However, from the molding and floral motif medallion, they look like picture hanging cords (albeit very thick cords). Can't wait for the mystery reveal!
The 1960's atomic light fixture shown @15:43 was in the house my parents rented for a short while when I was a kid. Would you be willing to sell this light fixture to me? It brings back good memories. Thanks for letting me know.
We have followed your site for sometime now. My wife and I just retired, and our daughters live in Ft. Mill South Carolina. We want to move there, but not in the busy Charlotte area. How have you found the area you live in, and are there places you would recommend? I pastored the same church for 33 years and my wife is a counselor. Not interested in working right now, just looking for a good place to live close to our daughters. We have restored and live in a 1895 Queen Anne.
Congratulations on your retirement! The Greenville area is getting to be very busy, but still has the feel of a smaller town. There are lots of small towns scattered around the state each with their own character. We have no complaints about living in the upstate region,
When the wire/plug of an appliance gets warm/hot, is the source the appliance or the house wiring? Ex., my air fryer cord/plug gets warm/hot but I always thought it was the wire on the air fryer being the source. Like, I feel like I could use it anywhere and it would get warm just because it's not a high gauge insulated cord.
Usually the heat is caused by poor contact at the outlet itself. The contacts get loose or worn down with age. I've seen some that were so bad that the cord would fall out.
That is good to know! I was planning on having house with old knob and tube rewired so that I could add more insulation. Is that a bad idea? Thank you! @@1834RestorationHouse
@@lonna4591 Ionna, it really depends on the condition of the wiring. I seen it where it was like new, and where it was tattered. If it's possible to rewire without wrecking the plaster, then it could be a good thing to do.
That's the plan. We're doing a phased cutover of all electrics onto the Square-D QO load center. We haven't had any trouble with the old panel, but to your point it really needs to retire.
Love Victorian houses, but not a fan of the lighting fixtures of the era, especially if it consists of one single fixture in the middle of the room ceiling. Room lighting needs to be more subtle! Ceiling fans are great -- without the lights!
Wow, if more houses are getting restored in your neighborhood, you might turn the whole neighborhood into a tourist attraction!
We've always hoped to inspire people to restore back to period correct, rather than modernizing. There are communities around the nation that have maintained their historic charm.
Not necessarily my favourite time period, but it brings back memories. My aunt had one of those pull down mid century lights over her kitchen table. My uncle always read the newspaper immediately after eating his dinner. As my aunt cleared the table she would pull down that lamp to right over the table and my uncle would rave about how wonderful the light was and how great it was to be able to read the paper so easily. Recently my daughter was complaining that in her home office she needed a better light and I told her about which was at least 50 years ago and when she asked me that she said “we’ll never find one of those now”. A week or so later on Kijiji (an online market place like Facebook market) we saw an ad for them. There were about 100 available as an old restaurant was being reopened and they were updating the whole interior. I think they still have usefulness in today’s homes. They just need to update the shades (a lot)!
Yes!!
I am currently in escrow on a property built in 1914. I am both excited and scared about some of the things that have come to light during the process. I want to honor the home and restore it. It has knob and tube wiring that has never been updated. The inspector says it is in great condition. Finally got someone in there to look at the heating system last week. The gentleman that performed the inspection seemed in awe of the system and the fact that it is still operational and in working order. It is water radiator system with a boiler. He reported that he couldn't give it a precise age because the boiler was before dates were put on them but said it is pre 1950s and that it could possible be original. A couple of repairs were evident. One room upstairs a radiation was removed and capped off, but the rest of the system is working and the owner who is in his 90s was still using it to heat the house until he moved out December. All of the piping of the radiator system is cast iron insulated with asbestos... Ekkk. He said I can still use the system, it is safe. He warned me that any repairs of the piping would be very expensive due to the asbestos. I may have to abandon the system at some point with a new HAVAC install? Wondering your thoughts on this? I think it is very cool the old system is still operational today. Need to strategize for down the road.
Ionna, That is great to hear! Those old boiler systems were very good at heating the house and there is no reason to pull it out. There's a good chance that the boiler will outlast you! ;-) Are you in the Northeast?
Take a look at our earliest video episodes. We used to own an old house built in 1834 that had an ancient boiler. We even gave the boiler its own episode. It would be good if you can find a service man who really understands and appreciates the boiler system. As a homeowner, there are a few things simple things you should do to keep the system running well.
Given the choice of HVAC vs. Boiler heat, I'll take boiler every time.
Looking forward to the next episodes. I just think the old Victorian lighting is beautiful. Thanks for the information. 😊😊
Thanks for watching!
Just when I’m about to say Victorian is my favorite I remember art deco. 😃
Art Deco is very nice too!
I really like the Victorian lighting. My favorite is the old gaslights. Still see them in some cities like New Orleans. Amazing that they are still working and can convert them to electricity. Keep the same look. Happy St.Patrick's Day.🌈🍀🍀❤️🤍💙
Happy St. Patricks day! 💚💚
OMG, I CAN'T WAIT, TY FOR THE HISTORY INFO. AWESOME LIGHTS,
I love the victorian era. Ty for sharing.
Glad you enjoyed them!
Very interesting episode! I love Victorian Chandeliers and the dual gasolier lighting. A real sense of romance and beauty. Thanks for the new episode.
Glad you enjoyed it! I meant to talk about the gas/electric fixtures but I forgot. ;-)
I'm so excited about seeing the neighbors house inside ! Oh boy ! Wouldn't it be nice if you did their electrical work.
I just removed my empty old, unpainted wood fuse box which must have been in the pantry and looks like your box with the butterfly hinges ( now the bathroom since c 1920s), and still can see the K&T in the 1/2 story above, though it’s been changed like yours. I have a new 200 amp box waiting...and old lighting still installed in 4 places. What’s really cool is that i was able to find 1920s ceiling fixtures to go with the old ones and I’ll be rewiring them. Thank you for a timely video!
FYI your porch light is c 1920s-30s.
Your entry light appears more Deco, probably 30s or even 40s, as it’s smaller and simpler.
My favorites are the ones made in the late 10s!
Great information! Sounds like you're making good progress on your electrical upgrades.
Wow! I am so excited to hear the history of the house, and maybe get a tour of your neighbors restoration too.
That was fun. I watched while ate my lunch lol. I would say lightening from the Victorian era would be my favorite. I would write more but in a hurry to run some errands lol. Thank you both ever so kindly.
Thanks for spending your lunch hour with us!
I still have knob and tube! Obviously my favorite anything is Victorian, including light fixtures. I have 2 original fixtures and one sconce. Excited to see your neighbors home renovation.
Thanks for sharing!
Great video guys. Very interesting! Loved it, thank you. Much love lisa xxx ❤😘👏
Thank you Lisa! 💖💖
Great PSA on wiring setups. I know what to look for now, and update as needed. I definitely enjoyed your original fixtures, and even the questionable ones. My feeling is that the fixtures should at least mimic the era of the house, whatever era that may be. 💚💚🍀🍀
We agree!
I enjoyed the tour and history of electrics and lighting. Your home has some beautiful light fixtures and some scary to me, electric {lol}. I really like Victorian light fixtures. Blessings.
Thanks for watching!
Those lighting fixtures are very lovely! I can't wait to hear about that brick fixture that6a in your yard!!
Me neither! Kidding!
I really enjoyed this video of the lighting and the differences in the wiring. I'm really looking forward to the upcoming videos regarding the "mystery structure" and the story of your home. I'm not well versed in different generations of lighting but I prefer warm older looking lights vs the cool white lights of today"s LED lights. I find myself unable to relax and I feel tense in that kind of lighting. I love the warm yellow color coming from cutely decorated windows.
We agree! The warmer lights always feel good.
You can buy LED lights in a wide range of colors from warm to cool!
Thank you for the great tour and I can't wait to see your friends house.
It's going to be a great episode. We've been over there a while back and there's some good bones in that place.
I remember that 60's fixture. The very first house my parents owned was in a new suburban neighbourhood in a very small city (Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada). For the first time in my life (at age 7) we had indoor plumbing ( sinks, bath tub AND toilet). That light fixture was in two places--over the "breakfast" area of the kitchen and a slightly fancier version in the dining room (too small for a family of five to actually sit down at table but never mind). I became a teenager before we moved from that house--I still remember the address and I'm almost 70.
That must have been pure luxury to have indoor plumbing after living without it! How does one do their business in an outhouse during the dead of Saskatchewan winter?
@@1834RestorationHouse One doesn't. Everyoneused those big round porcelain or enameled pots. Some times they had lids. Our parents would take turns getting us up for one last wee pee, before they went to bed. They were still young enough not to need that middle of the night trip that aging bodies seem to require.
Hi friends! I'm glad you now have info about your place! How exciting! I can't wait until your make the big reveal. I always thought that structure in the back was either for washing clothes or cleaning freshly caught animals for dinner. We shall see soon enough. lol Have a great week. Belle in AZ 😊
Hi Belle! We're working on the video and hope to have it ready soon!
Thanks much for showing the knob and tube pictures as well as your wonderful light fixtures. That mid century light must have looked horrible when it was in use. It would be ok in my 1950s rancher, though. I was just checking out original mid century lighting yesterday, such as PH5 pendant lights. Even the reproductions are extremely expensive (to me, anyway). Enjoy that lovely spring weather; I know NE Ohio will get it soon. 😍 🌷
Those old flying saucer lights looked so nice in their native midcentury environment.
I envy your vintage light fixtures. I love fixtures from that era. I don't have any, but just recently started upgrading the bulbs in my lamps and fixtures to Edison style bulbs. They're LED bulbs, not authentic carbon filament bulbs, but they do have a nice appearance and pleasant warm glow.
I'll be anxiously awaiting your upcoming history reveal.
I eager to finish that new episode. There's so much we've learned.
As an electrician that got into it as a kid this is fascinating. I remember seeing bits and bobs of this stuff throughout old houses as a kid learning with my older brother. Seeing it all still in place hooked up and working like it always has is rare though. If it were me and your just using it for lighting, I'd save all of it and convert it over to 24v DC to make it safe. Try to show it off a little even maybe move some of it to surface mount.
A well built knob and tube system is a thing of beauty!
Your electrical system is very interesting! I grew up in Boston in a house that originally had gas lights with fixtures in every room, and when electricity arrived on the scene, an electric fixture was fastened to the capped end of each pipe. The entire house was on just one circuit, and each room had just one outlet. This was actually a good thing, so that only one high-draw appliance (toaster, crock pot, etc.) could be plugged in at a time. As we acquired more things like a TV, a higher-amperage fuse replaced the lower-rated one! We were unaware that all the gas pipes were still live until we attempted to replace the kitchen light fixture and heard gas escaping as we unscrewed it. Back then it was "manufactured" gas from coal, which is very deadly. But I didn't die from poisonous gas or an electrical fire, nor from the lead pipes that supplied our water!
WoW! That sounds scary to have gas pouring out like that.
The Art nouveau lighting is my most favorite Victorian it is also beautiful specially all the pretty glass chandeliers they had back then
Yes, and there were so many styles!
Another great video! Thanks for the explanation on the different types of electrical wiring.
Thanks for watching!
My favorite lighting is early 1900s through the 1920s which is close to what you have it’s wonderful!
Thanks for sharing!
I love elegant and ornate light fixtures, I just don't like them turned on. I prefer table lamps with soft lighting. This is a wonderful video and anxiously await the next one.
Thanks for watching. We've found that the edisonian bulbs put out a very soft low light, extremely warm.
This is an awesome video. I like the lighting from now I guess. Anything else used to scare me as a kid.
It’s snowing like crazy now in KC. So glad you’re enjoying spring weather. The house I grew up in had the ‘50s lamp like you showed. It was in our dining room. Take care❤
Sending you warm spring wishes! 💖
We live in a 1903 home with many styles incorporated originally. I am presently adding Gothic. I removed all of the ceiling fans for converted gaslights. We use a stand up fan in some rooms in summer. TN. here so I get the humid situation 😉
That should really dress up your home, having old lights.
I enjoyed seeing the old electrical system and the antique lighting! The pieces that you do have are very interesting and beautiful. Even the MCM flying saucer!
I love those old flying saucer lights!
Beautiful lighting!
:-)
Well, now I am just as interested in how you got the information and who had the information...almost as much as all the information concerning the history and Victorian wedding?!! history of the house. Can't wait! We have all been waiting since you moved in. :-)
Lol, yeah we've been a little slow in getting this figured out.
As far as we can tell, only the faux candle sconces in our guestroom/office are original to the house. They are still in a box, waiting to be re-wired and put back up. The majority of our original electric wiring was enclosed in metal conduit, all since rewired, with a new main panel. We went with new fixtures, but kept everything in the 1920s-1930s aesthetic. You have some nice pieces there. If your house is from 1900 (a transitional period), I would think they are original. Not the flying saucer light, though, lol. In various old house tours I've seen fabulous combo gasolier/electric fixtures, some with custom ceiling medallions to match. The sky is the limit when people are building their dream mansion.
It's always fun to see how the grand homes played with styles and architecture. You can still get cloth covered electrical cord for lamps. Might be good to help restore your original one?
@@1834RestorationHouse They are actually wall sconces hard wired into the wall, with individual brass switches to shut off each one separately. My favorite bit is the faux candle wax drips below where the 'flame' bulb screws in, and original hand painting on the metal 'shield' plates that cover the guts in the wall.
I love your videos, good job. I closed on a 1901 victorian house yesterday. I have to do a lot of work. It is outside Raleigh NC
Congratulations! Your house will keep you busy for many years to come!
We live in a 1965 ranch. A previous owner turned the walkout basement into a family room ( the fireplace is down there). Our first project after purchase was to redo that area for use as a library. Not one connection of wires was encased in a box. The wires were connected with wire nuts and hanging above the drop ceiling. He has also cut a couple of extension cords and had them wired in to connect some overhead lights. So glad that was our first renovation!
Wow! We're glad you were able to find and fix those problems. That's very common to find unprotected junctions in old houses. We still have several that need to be corrected.
I love victorian fixtures but my favorite is Art Deco.
Oh yes, they were really interesting!
My favorite lighting design would probably be arts and crafts or art deco. Regarding that non metallic sheathed cable (Romex) with the silver sheathing, that is probably from the 1940’s or 1950’s. I started in the trade in the 1960’s and by then we were using non metallic sheathed cable that very much resembles what is used today. I think that the sheathing material is a little different. I’ve mentioned this before but when I was in trade school we were taught how to install knob and tube. Early installations would space the hot and neutral fairly far apart, 6 to 8 inches usually, later the knobs were made to clamp both wires spaced about an inch apart.
Sir, you have a rare skill! Not many people can say they've been certified in knob and tube construction. ;-)
My (Mike) childhood home was built in 1962 and I remember seeing the silver coated wiring then so they must have still been making it at that point. Well built knob/tube systems are a thing of beauty!
I love MCM homes and Victorian
Both are great homes for different reasons.
My favorite period is mid-century modern!
Lol! Sputnik light fixtures!
@@1834RestorationHouse I love that Sputnik light!
For me it's victorian, I love my dollhouse and it's victorian.
Nice!
The guy from the 2nd Empire Strikes Back channel, may want that pull down light. His dad is restoring an 50s house.
By the way, Those lights were made and used mainly for playing cards. Many people played cards back then. They could eat dinner, then after, pull the light down for a card game. As you said, not many were made or survived because the cord to pull it up and down would brake and the light would stay in the down position or it just wouldnt pull down anymore. I always thought they were cool lights. They should make them now. I would use it.
I remember seeing them all over in the early 70s. They were cool.
Interesting!!
Really enjoyed this one too! Friday evening with a glass of wine and Mike and Jeanie! I love the old warm lights. In the house I lived in as a "girl", we had one of those mid century modern light fixtures. My brother ended up breaking it. We still talk about that. Y'all - This Old House should come visit. It would make an interesting show.
Oh that must have been embarrassing for your brother!
As I mentioned on your recap video, the electrical system fascinates me - both the new stuff you've put in and the old fashioned wiring. I've never seen fuses like that with glass and ceramic, but they're actually very pretty. Even when everything is converted to modern electric, I'm sure those old fuse boxes and wires will be a pretty display piece as part of the history of the house. Looking forward to more rewiring videos!
Have you seen pictures of victorian industrial electric systems. That is off the charts cool!
I loved all the beautiful old light fixtures, the one with white cylinder globes, and the bronze finish was my favorite. You two do amazing work , I always look forward to your videos. You asked what my favorite style of lighting is, art nouveau for sure. Actually art nouveau, and victorian complement each other in a beautiful way.
Some amazing fixture came out of that time period. Thanks for watching.
I’m so happy you shared this with us. It was really interesting learning n knowing about our electricity from the time it was introduced till our day. You asked what was our favorite time of era for lighting. Have to say the Victorian n some craftsman style lighting. They we’re so beautiful n ornate.
I’m so excited about the many episodes you’ll be sharing. Thank you so much for thinking of all of us. We love you both.
♥️😊👍🌟🌟
We love you too! :-)
Had that mid-century lamp in our small cracker jack box of a house. It didn't like to go "up". There were 4 streets of duplicate cracker jack box houses in our neighborhood. Think they were built in early/mid 50s. About 900 sq ft.
Sounds like the post-war housing boom.
@@1834RestorationHouse yep. Great place to grow up. Lots of kids to play with
You guys need a carbon arc street lamp. It would look absolutely amazing.
These days we're stuck with high pressure sodium lights outside. Nice and orange!
@@1834RestorationHouse those are fantastic, I use them inside and outside
All this talk about electricity is more interesting to me since I got my house rewired. My house had five breaker boxes!
That's a lot of boxes!
Thank you so much for the lighting video. You have a beautiful home. Glad that there are some lighting elements that are original. I am looking forward to finding out what the mysterious brick construction is in the backyard.
Hi Julie, thanks for watching! There were probably more victorian lights at one time, but they were replaced with modern ceiling fans.
I find it interesting that your breaker panel is outside. In Canada they would ALWAYS be inside, usually in a cellar (which I realize you don't always have in the south). I should think that moisture would be an issue in SC. Also, in Canada you can't get insurance for homes with knob and tube wiring--you MUST re-wire for code (and safety) reasons.
It's fairly common to see outdoor panels in the Southern states. I thought it was weird too the first time I saw them until I realized that all of the new homes were being built that way.
@@1834RestorationHouse Wow It makes no sense but hey whatever!
The wiring and lights would be Edwardian lighting. Cheers
I’m surprised someone didn’t say keep the old breaker boxes for display. I am eager to learn what the mystery structure is.And hopefully as your channel grows old pictures will surface.
Heheheheh! Oh yeah!
Thanks for the lighting episode, especially the knob and tube wiring which I have. I love the outdoor pix, hoping to see that in my backyard soon. How is school going; hope it's going well for you.
School is going great, except for pre-calc algebra.
While I do like Victorian era lighting, my favorite is Arts and Crafts/Mission style.
Yes, they are very stylish!
I can't really say what time frame my favorite lighting is from, unless you can date Tiffany. Not everyone likes Tiffany as many people equate it with Art Deco ( kind of like the space age of late '50's and early '60's). I do have a question for you. What are the hanging cords that are showing up in your entryway and (I think) your parlor? From a distance they look like electric cords. However, from the molding and floral motif medallion, they look like picture hanging cords (albeit very thick cords). Can't wait for the mystery reveal!
You guessed correctly.....They were picture hangers.
The 1960's atomic light fixture shown @15:43 was in the house my parents rented for a short while when I was a kid. Would you be willing to sell this light fixture to me? It brings back good memories. Thanks for letting me know.
Victorian
💖1930s. 1940s
Yes, they were beautiful!
We have followed your site for sometime now. My wife and I just retired, and our daughters live in Ft. Mill South Carolina. We want to move there, but not in the busy Charlotte area. How have you found the area you live in, and are there places you would recommend? I pastored the same church for 33 years and my wife is a counselor. Not interested in working right now, just looking for a good place to live close to our daughters. We have restored and live in a 1895 Queen Anne.
Congratulations on your retirement! The Greenville area is getting to be very busy, but still has the feel of a smaller town. There are lots of small towns scattered around the state each with their own character. We have no complaints about living in the upstate region,
When the wire/plug of an appliance gets warm/hot, is the source the appliance or the house wiring?
Ex., my air fryer cord/plug gets warm/hot but I always thought it was the wire on the air fryer being the source. Like, I feel like I could use it anywhere and it would get warm just because it's not a high gauge insulated cord.
Usually the heat is caused by poor contact at the outlet itself. The contacts get loose or worn down with age. I've seen some that were so bad that the cord would fall out.
@@1834RestorationHouse That's actually the case with this outlet. I'm going to ask my neighbor to swap it out with a new one and see if that helps!
A downside of knob and tube wiring is that it cannot, by code, be covered with house insulation.
So true! On the other hand, these old houses need to breathe and insulation can cause moisture buildup.
That is good to know! I was planning on having house with old knob and tube rewired so that I could add more insulation. Is that a bad idea? Thank you! @@1834RestorationHouse
@@lonna4591 Ionna, it really depends on the condition of the wiring. I seen it where it was like new, and where it was tattered. If it's possible to rewire without wrecking the plaster, then it could be a good thing to do.
I have a1907 with the 2 front rooms still original including plugs and switches..I am afraid to use them
You may have good outlets or not. It's hard to tell without inspecting the wiring.
Maybe you could sell the mid century light fixture that doesn’t work with your home style. $$
Jesus that's a stab lok panel holy sh you need to remove the 60s panel that's a stab lok panel there dangerous and cause electrical fires 🔥
That's the plan. We're doing a phased cutover of all electrics onto the Square-D QO load center. We haven't had any trouble with the old panel, but to your point it really needs to retire.
Indeed
Love Victorian houses, but not a fan of the lighting fixtures of the era, especially if it consists of one single fixture in the middle of the room ceiling. Room lighting needs to be more subtle! Ceiling fans are great -- without the lights!
I wish we didn't need the ceiling fans, but our Southern humidity requires them.
@@1834RestorationHouse I have ceiling fans, but without the light kits!