Enough with the lamps

Candy surprised me today with an unexpected but welcomed gift! She picked up a couple of glass lamp shades at the antique store for just 8.00 dollars. These shades will actually work with my North Bros. Christmas Tree Stands, which come in two different sizes. I'm so excited to be able to build new lamps using the North Bros. Christmas Tree Stands as the base, and fortunately I should be able to find all the necessary hardware that I need to make this happen.

However, what makes these North Bros. Christmas Tree Stands so special? Well, they were designed by a company called North Bros. Manufacturing Company in Philadelphia during the early 1900s and were quite popular during the holiday season in America. The reason is because their stands allowed for people to safely display their Christmas trees indoors instead of having them take up space outdoors or inside traditional wooden boxes. Furthermore, it was also great for those who did not want to keep buying live trees each year since these stands could hold both artificial trees and real ones alike! 

In addition to being functional, these stands are also incredibly collectible due to their unique designs and nostalgic charm. The best part however is that many of these vintage pieces can still be bought today on sites like eBay or Etsy at relatively affordable prices if you know where to look! 

Now that I am finally going to have a classic set of North Bros. Christmas Tree Stands with new glass lamp shades on top, I can't wait for this project! With some luck and hard work I'm sure my lamps will turn out great and be something truly special that can be cherished for many years down the line-just like the classic pieces from North Bros Manufacturing Company themselves!

North Bros. Tree Stands

So a while back I had picked up a box of pre-1947 North Bros. Christmas Tree Stands.   I just though they were so cool. Well I finally got around to refurbishing them.   It was fun except for the sand blasting, I hate sand blasting.  I refinished 13 all together and they came out really nice.

I tore them down and ran them through the bead cabinet, then was ready to move to the next step.   I boxed them all up and brought them over to the house and cleaned them all up.  Then it was just a matter of priming and painting.   I hung up a makeshift clothes line and then cut wire that I used as hangers.   I primed and painted each one, letting it hang to dry.  This process in itself took me two weeks painting off/on.

Once they were dry I moved into the house where I used a paint marker.  Yes a paint marker, who know they made such a thing.  Well it worked great for this application.  I taped up the legs and then added the gold paint.  For all the rest I just free handed with the marker to add the gold paint where needed.

I used a paper plate and stuck the bolts through it.  Then I could spray paint the heads black to match the rest.  That worked great and didn't make a big mess.  then it was just a matter of final reassembly.   I struggled a bit with the first one, but that allowed me to see what I needed to and the order that I needed to put them back together.

All in all I am very pleased with the outcome. I see these listed on eBay for $65.00 to $250.00 depending on condition.  For me they will become pieces for other items I may want make.

You can see below that I have already repurposed two of them and made lamps.  I found some old ceiling lamps at the flea market and bought three of them for a dollar.   The base was white and required some modifications, but I loved the glass globes that were on them.  I did some research and bought wire, off/on switch and the lamp socket and put it all together.  I made two and have them on my desk at home.

Next I was going to see if I could use some old cameras and wire them up, so that the light will be where the flash bulb is currently.   I'll keep you posted but think they will be pretty cool when done.