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Vintporium Restores- Chapter 4 Pot Metal

• Antique • Ceiling Fixture • Ceiling Light • Flush Mount • Light • Light Fixture • Lighting • pot metal • Vintage • vintage light • Vintporium

Vintporium Restores- Chapter 4 Pot Metal

Pot Metal had its start in the early 1920’s budding automobile industry. All the non-ferrous metal leftovers were gathered and thrown into a pot. The non-ferrous, or iron-free, metals had a low melting point making them great for castings. The pot metal mix was not at all precise. Some common metals used were lead, zinc, tin, copper, magnesium, aluminum, and cadmium.  Small amounts of iron would also find their way into the mix.          Image courtesy of NPS.gov  Many of the casted metal fixtures from the early 20th Century are pot metal and if you follow our social media...

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The Vintporium Heritage Standard

The Heritage Standard

Restored by hand, one at a time. Old wire out. New wire rated for present use, sound sockets, and grounding where the fixture allows. The body, glass, finish, and the marks it earned stay. Every fixture is tested on the bench before it leaves the shop.

About the Founder

Joe Golda has run Vintporium from his workshop in San José since 2008. He sources the pieces, pulls the old wiring, rewires them, finishes them by hand, and packs them himself. One person, one bench, one standard. Every fixture is tested — each socket, each switch — before it ships. What's original is called original. What's new is called new. We call this commitment to candor and craft our Heritage Standard.