Established 1987 in London, Forbes & Lomax has always approached the lighting control market from an aesthetic point of view.
The elegant glass, nickel, and brass switches of the 1930’s were no longer available, and the modern equivalents were unsuitable for use in prestigious projects and high-end interiors.
It was with this in mind that Forbes & Lomax launched The Invisible Lightswitch® featuring a transparent acrylic plate allowing the wallpaper or paint finish to show through, with a stylish metal Toggle in the center. The novel design offered an attractive and timeless solution with all the advantages of modern technology. After much thought to design and technical specification, the switch was adapted for use in the United States and Canada.
Over the years, Forbes & Lomax has added to the collection producing high quality Rotary Dimmers, Push Buttons, and Outlets in a range of sophisticated finishes. A defining feature are the screwless, flush fitting wall plates, creating a very sleek look. Available in Brass, Bronze, Nickel, and Steel to suit the exacting demands of architects and interior designers with either traditional or contemporary portfolios. We are proud to have become the first point of reference for architects and designers.
FINISHES
As part of the range, Forbes & Lomax offers eight different finishes for switch and outlet plates. In accordance with our philosophy of simplicity and elegance, the finishes are carefully chosen.
THE INVISIBLE LIGHTSWITCH®
Inspired by glass switches of the Art Deco period, but with all the advantages of modern technology, The Invisible Lightswitch® has become synonymous with Forbes & Lomax.
Switches and dimmers have 3mm beveled transparent acrylic plates which are secured without the use of fixing screws. Plates are available with Toggle Switches, Rotary Dimmers, or Push Buttons in your choice of unlacquered brass, nickel silver, stainless steel, or antique bronze.
A 1mm ‘Inner Plate’ of primed aluminum can be decorated in the same way as the walls, and when combined with the Invisible top plate, it gives the illusion that the wallpaper or paint finish runs seamlessly behind the wallplate. Invisible outlets with 3mm acrylic plates complete the range.
THE PAINTED RANGE
The Painted Range provides primed ready-to-paint plates that sit flush to the wall. Each plate can be painted onsite to match the wall color, for a subtle and unobtrusive look. Plates are available with Toggle Switches, Rotary Dimmers, or Push Buttons. These switch components are supplied in your choice of Unlacquered Brass, Brushed Brass, Nickel Silver, Stainless Steel, or Antique Bronze.
Painted Outlets are also available to complement the switch plates.
Painted 3 Gang with Stainless Steel Toggle & Rotary Dimmers
Painted 4 Gang with Stainless Steel Toggles
Painted 1 Gang with Nickel Silver Toggle
Painted 3 Gang with Unlacquered Brass Toggles
UNLACQUERED BRASS
The Unlacquered Brass range features 1.8mm wallplates in a beautiful high-shine brass. The plates are designed to mellow and tarnish with age when left unpolished. This look is particularly suitable for period buildings where a bright brass look would be less desirable.
Alternatively, the plates can be polished to restore their original shine if required. One of our most sought-after finishes, our variety of unlacquered brass products meet all the demands of modern living.
Unlacquered Brass Toggle Switches and Rotary Dimmers
Unlacquered Brass Rotary Dimmers
Unlacquered Brass outlet with Light Almond insert
AGED BRASS
The Aged Brass range finish has been designed to look beautifully antiqued upon installation and has been left unlacquered to continue to patina over time. Alternatively, it can be lightly polished to bring back some of the shine.
The real beauty of this finish lies in the mellow aged look of the brass, as though it has been an original part of your interior for many years.
The Toggles, Dimmer Knobs, and Push Buttons are supplied polished but unlacquered, providing a subtle accent to the more muted finish of the aged plates.
The Nickel Silver range has a highly polished nickel plate, creating a mirrored finish which reflects the colors of the room and brightens a space.
Its luxurious appearance is warmer than chrome, making it more appealing for living areas. A beautiful accent to any room, the Nickel Silver range sits nicely in both traditional and contemporary interiors.
Nickel Silver Rotary Dimmer
Nickel Silver Push Buttons
Nickel Silver outlet with Oyster insert
Nickel Silver 4-gang with Toggle Switches and Rotary Dimmers
STAINLESS STEEL
The Stainless Steel range features brushed stainless steel plates. The plates are 1.8mm thick and sit flat on the wall for a sleek and sophisticated look.
The Stainless Steel finish is slightly industrial in appearance and is especially well suited to contemporary interiors and kitchens.
Stainless Steel Rotary Dimmer
Stainless Steel outlet with White insert
Stainless Steel Toggle Switch
Stainless Steel 3-gang with Rotary Dimmers and Toggle Switch
BRUSHED BRASS
The Brushed Brass range has vertical brush marks, which provide a subtle texture to the plates. The finish is satin, with minimal shine.
Switch plates are supplied lacquered, for a wear-resistant finish. Unlike our “Unlacquered Brass” and “Aged Brass” finishes, the Brushed Brass will not age and patina over time.
Brushed Brass Toggle Switch
Brushed Brass Rotary Dimmers
Brushed Brass outlet with Light Almond USB-C insert
Brushed Brass Push Buttons
ANTIQUE BRONZE
The Antique Bronze range has a dark gun metal hue to the plates. They coordinate with a variety of interior styles and work particularly well on wood paneling and other unusual surroundings. The plates have a slightly variable finish, which adds to their distinctive look.
The Antique Bronze finish is durable and will stand the test of time. Original switch plates in this finish can be seen in historic buildings, maintaining their appeal one hundred years later.
The outlets are supplied with black inserts to complement the dark finish of the plates.
Antique Bronze Rotary Dimmer
Antique Bronze Outlet and Toggle Switch Antique Bronze outlet with Black insert
Antique Bronze custom plate with Toggle Switch and Rotary Dimmers
OUTLET INSERTS
Outlet inserts are available in Black, Gray, White, Light Almond, and Oyster. Different types of inserts are available for power, GFCI power, USB, phone, and data. (Please note Data, phone and TV inserts are not available in Oyster.)
THE PAINTED OUTLET
Painted Outlet plates are available with square or radius corners. When pairing them with our Painted Lightswitch range, we recommend square corners to match the corners of the switch plates. If you are pairing them with other finishes, you can choose whether you prefer the softer more traditional look of the radius corners, or the more defined square corners.
Painted Outlet plates are etch-primed, ready to be painted onsite.
BLACK GRAY WHITE LIGHT ALMOND OYSTER
Paintable Outlet with light almond insert (square corners)
Paintable Outlet with light almond insert (radius corners)
DEVICE STYLES
Rotary Dimmers are designed for standard line voltage wiring installations. They push to switch on/off and rotate to dim and brighten. They are simple and tactile to use. Several models are available to suit a variety of different types of lighting. In addition, a non-dimming version is available that looks the same as a dimmer but only pushes on/off and does not rotate to dim and brighten.
Toggle Switches are available for standard line voltage applications and for momentary dry contact closure applications, making them suitable for conventional wiring installations as well as for integrating with panel-based home automation systems, such as Lutron Homeworks, Crestron, Savant, Vantage, and Control 4.
Push Buttons are momentary dry contact closure switches, solely for integrating with panel-based home automation systems, such as Lutron Homeworks, Crestron, Savant, Vantage, and Control 4. Push Buttons cannot be used in a conventional line voltage wiring installation.
HOME AUTOMATION
Forbes & Lomax momentary dry contact Push Buttons and Toggle Switches are designed to be used as controls for panel-based home automation systems such as Lutron Homeworks, Crestron, Savant, Vantage, and Control 4.
The switches connect to these systems using contact closure interfaces. Once connected, different functions can be assigned to the switches via programming in the system’s software. The plates can be custom engraved to denote their functions.
Unlacquered Brass Toggle Switches
Unlacquered Brass Toggle Switches and Push Buttons with bespoke engraving
HOME AUTOMATION
When connected to a panel-based home automation system, Push Buttons can be used to select and dim lighting zones, cycle through scenes, or control window shades. They offer a sleek alternative to standard keypads.
Momentary Toggles rest in the center position and can be pushed up or down and will spring back to the center position. They are well suited to switching and dimming lighting zones or scenes, and for controlling window shades.
Bespoke engraving provides ease of use
Antique Bronze Push Buttons with bespoke engraving
