If you’ve lived in an older American house, you’ve probably stood under a 3-chain ceiling light. A small porcelain or metal canopy on the ceiling, a bare socket, and a glass shade hanging below it on three short beaded chains. These beaded chain fixtures were common in American homes from the 1920s through the 1940s.
The design is simple. Three holes are spaced evenly around the flared edge of the shade. Three chains run from the fixture body down through those holes. A ball on the end of each chain sits under the shade and holds it up. No screws, no fitter ring. The chains do all the work.
What goes wrong
The chains go missing, or they’re tarnished.
What the kit does
We put together the Universal Ball Chain Kit because finding the right combination of chain and end balls one piece at a time is a hassle. It covers the common setups for a 3-chain fixture:
- Three 12-inch lengths of #6 bead chain. #6 is a common bead chain size, with beads about 1/8 inch across. Twelve inches gives you room to set the drop you want and trim the rest.
- Three 3/16-inch balls. These typically go on the fixture side, at the porcelain body.
- Three 1/4-inch balls. These go on the shade side, under the glass, and carry the shade.
- Three 3/8-inch balls. These fit over the 1/4-inch balls if your shade has oversized holes.
- Three chain clasps. For joining sections of chain if you need more length.
The balls come open and un-crimped. That’s on purpose. It lets you choose which balls go where, set your chain length, and close them yourself.
The kit is new and comes in brass or nickel finish, so you can match the fixture body.
Common questions about bead chain shades
What size ball do I need for my shade?
Start with the 1/4-inch ball on the shade side. If it slips through the hole in your glass, put the 3/8-inch ball over it. The kit includes both, so you don’t have to guess before you order.
What size ball goes on the fixture side?
The 3/16-inch ball is the one commonly used on the fixture side of porcelain-based beaded chain fixtures.
How long should the chains be?
That depends on your shade and how far you want it to hang below the bulb. Set one chain, hang the shade, and check the drop. Then cut the other two to match. All three need to be the same length or the shade won’t hang level.
How do I shorten bead chain?
Cut it with wire cutters between two beads. Then fit the end bead into the ball and close it.
How do I close the balls?
With needle nose pliers. Squeeze each ball closed around the end bead of the chain. Crimp them firmly.
Do I need a clasp?
Only if you need to join two sections of chain to get more length.
Looking for the rest of the fixture?
If your shade needs a fixture, or your fixture needs a shade, look through our lighting and replacement shades. For help identifying what you have, the Salvage Knowledge Library is a good place to start.
Salvager’s Note
Before you crimp anything, check the holes in your shade. If a 1/4-inch ball slips through, you need the 3/8-inch ball over it. Then hang the shade with all three chains at the same length and check that it sits level before you trim the excess.
1-408-387-0845
joe@vintporium.com
