Mid-Century Chrome Spotlights – Rail Mechanism
Links (external links open in a new window)
Massive – Wikipedia (in Dutch)
The complete history of the Philips company
Vintageinfo
1970s geometric ceramics & chrome table lamp
Mid-Century Chrome Spotlights
Materials: 3 chromed metal (iron) tubular adjustable spots. Chrome handles. Plastic and metal connectors. Plastic and metal rail (aluminium). Some plastic and metal parts. Porcelain or Bakelite E27 sockets.
Spotlight:
Length: 20 cm / 7.87” – with light bulb.
Width: ∅ 7,5 cm / 2.95”
Rail: 2,5 x 125 cm / 0.98 x 49.21”
Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 60 watt maximum, 110/220 volt
Any type of light bulb with an E27 socket can be used, but a reflector light bulb R63 is preferred.
Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: To be appraised.
Manufacturer: Massive, Mortsel, Kontich and Wommelgem, Belgium.
Other Versions: These mid-century chrome spotlights on rail were sold with 3 lamps. At least, if you already find them, they always have three lamps. They were also made with white wiring and Bakelite sockets. Often used as wall lamps or picture lights.
Massive
Massive was in origin a bronze foundry and they produced mainly candlesticks, crucifixes and chandeliers in Wilrijk near Antwerp, Belgium. The company was founded in 1926 by Pieter-Jozef De Jaeck. His son Eddy De Jaeck was responsible for the huge expansion of the company in the 1970s. But it were his sons, Piet and Jan De Jaeck who made Massive a true multinational. Thus, they moved production to Eastern Europe and China.
In the 1980s Massive Lighting became the leading brand in Europe. In 2002, the brothers left the company to the investment fund CVC Capital Partners, for allegedly more than 250 million euros.
Since 2008 the company is owned by Philips and the name of the shops is changed into Light Gallery.
When the takeover by Philips was announced in November 2006 Massive commercialised more than 10.000 lighting products under brand names such as Massive, TRIO and Lirio. The group had about 5.000 employees worldwide and was active in 70 countries.
Mid-Century Chrome Spotlights – Single Lamp Version
The Massive labels explained in 4 pictures
Mass. Max. 60 W. = Massimo is Italian, Maximum is used in all other European languages were Massive sold lamps during that period. 60 Watt. The label on this spotlights is the first label on the left.
Many thanks to Joeri from Centurysoup for the picture of the single spotlight. You can find his website and shop over here.