FAQ

We do offer wattage upgrades on many of our fixtures.

Naturally, your next question is, "So why don't you just make the fixtures with higher wattages as the standard?"

There are a couple of reasons.

Authenticity is very important to us. We strive to make our fixtures as visually similar to the originals as possible (and still meet current safety standards.) When wattage upgrades require modifications that alter the appearance of the fixture, we usually opt for lower wattage - but more authenticity.

The last part of the answer involves supply wiring. Old houses were typically wired with 60-degree supply wire. This was more than adequate for homes without televisions, VCRs, computers, microwaves, coffee makers, cordless phones, and the multitude of other appliances found in most of today's homes.

The building code for homes built before 1985 generally specified 60-degree supply wire. Most homes built since 1985 have 75- or 90-degree supply wire and can accommodate much "hotter" fixtures. We think it's important to create fixtures that are safe for the lowest-rated supply wire - and this limits some of the wattage options.

Having said all of this, we do offer wattage upgrades on many of our fixtures. Some are as simple as changing a shade or a socket, others require several modifications - including different wire within the fixture and confirming that the fixture will be installed in a building with 75- or 90-degree supply wiring.

Contact Customer Service to learn more.