British design has been much on our minds this last month with the inspiring London Design Festival taking place; but our nation's commitment to good design is not a new thing, companies such as 'REVO' and 'GEC' were producing well-engineered thoughtful designs from the early 20th Century onwards.
On a recent salvaging trip we sourced these fabulous early British enamel shades manufactured by GEC. These particular examples of the classic green factory shade illuminated the warehouses of the Pirelli Tyre facility in Burton on Trent.
As with much classic British design of the time before we took the words 'planned obsolescence' so lightly, the products look as stylish and function as well today as they did when they rolled off the production line in 1930.
Director Chris Miller says "The fact that these lights are still in existence nearly 100 years after they were first made is testament to their quality – good design will always stand the test of time, as well as the rigours of its intended purpose.”