I’ve been collecting antique light fixtures for several years now, mostly bargains from Facebook Marketplace or eBay. After finding a few gorgeous pieces—like the Eastlake chandelier I plan to hang in my Queen Anne parlor—I realized I had to teach myself how to rewire and restore vintage lighting.
My first project was a 1907 Bryant pan light that broke down into a surprising number of pieces, all of which needed to be cleaned before wiring could be replaced and the fixture reassembled. In some cases, I improvised replacements for small