Times are tough to be in the antiques restoration business.
Since 1951, Aladdin Lamp and Shade Co., at 118 Monticello Ave., in Jersey City has specialized in the restoration of antique lamps, lights, and chandeliers found in historic mansions, houses, churches, synagogues and public buildings.
But since the economic and real estate slump hit roughly five years ago, the son of the original proprietor, Mark Hauptman 58, has been struggling to stay in business while many antique dealers and specialized trades he used to work with, such as blacksmiths and plasterers in Jersey City, have gone out of business.
In the mid-1980s Hauptman had three employees, but since his wife and helpmate Kim died two years ago he works alone.
"It's always been hard," Hauptman said. "But after things slowed down it has been really tough. I hope things get better."
Stepping into Hauptman's store is like stepping back in time. The front of the store is filled with standing lamps, table lamps, candle stick holders, candelabras and figurines, many from Europe and dating back to the late 19th Century.
Chandeliers hang from the tin ceiling. Oil lamps bear the names of classic manufacturers like Rayo and Bradley Hubbard. Hauptman still has invoice books dating back to 1951, filled with daily invoices for purchases when his father opened the store - Aladdin Monticello Lamp and Shade Co., across the street at 123 Monticello Ave.
A customer and fan of Art Deco architecture, Joan Peters, who lives at the Beacon, dropped by to pick up a porcelain lamp that Hauptman rewired for her last month. "The owner is so reasonable and very knowledgeable," Peters said.
In the workshop, where buckets collect rain water from a leaking roof, tools of the trade including metal shears, taps and dies for cutting threads hang on the walls, and a Cincinnati buffer and polisher and American Beauty soldering iron lie amongst a heap of brass and other metal parts.
On the shelves, bulbs, crystal glass, adapters and other lamp parts, many of which are no longer manufactured, are stowed away in dusty cigar boxes.
"It is an old-fashioned business, in an old-fashioned store in an old part of town," Hauptman said. "There is not as much interest in preserving fine art, antiques and restoring old homes. But it is important for the sake of history and preservation of fine art."
Some people who in better times might splash out for the real thing make do with cheap mass produced reproductions from China.
"You can just look at it and see it is not the same," Hauptman said admiring the details on an ornate brass lamp from the late 1800s decorated with musical instruments and a cherub holding up trees and flowers that hold the light fixtures.
Hauptman said his business has survived thanks to contracts to restore several chandeliers in synagogues, including two large ones for a restoration project of the United Synagogue of Hoboken Star of Israel building at 115 Park Ave., now listed on the state and national Registers of Historic Places.
"We wanted do to be very scrupulous in doing a good job restoring things the best we could," said Ken Schept, the synagogue's former president and chair of the restoration project. "Mark has specific talents and knowledge that is difficult to find these days."JJ