Lamps & Lighting

Geo. B. Carpenter & Co., est. 1840

Museum Artifact: Nautical Lantern, 1910s

Made By: Geo. B. Carpenter & Company, 440 N. Wells St.

“Navigation lamp” or “nautical lantern” would be the more distinguished terms, but according to the official 1917 catalogue of George B. Carpenter & Co., the beat-up brass relic pictured above was actually categorized as a “motor boat light,” with a more specific designation as the “No. 5 Combination Light.” It originally would have included two separate Fresnel lenses (like the kind in a lighthouse),

Adams & Westlake Company, est. 1857

Museum Artifact: Adlake Truck Lamp, c. 1910s

Made by: Adams & Westlake Co., 320 W. Ohio St. / 319 W. Ontario St., Chicago, IL

Much like one of today’s showbiz power couples, the partnership of Chicago railroad supply magnates John McGregor Adams and William Westlake produced its own linguistic portmanteau in the late 1800s, as the name “ADLAKE” (combining ADams and WestLAKE) soon evolved into their company’s primary identity.

Electro MFG Corp., est. 1930

Museum Artifact: Portable Lamp, c. 1940s

Made By: Electro Manufacturing Corporation, 2000 W. Fulton Street, Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Do-Ray Lamp Co., est. 1920

Museum Artifact: Tiger-Ey No. 100-0 Plastic Truck Reflector, c. 1950s

Made by: Do-Ray Lamp Company, 1458 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Manufacturing & Trading Co., est. 1952

Museum Artifact: “Wonder Wand” Industrial Safety Lamp, c. 1970

Made By: Manufacturing & Trading Company “VO”, 904 N. Campbell Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

American Reflector & Lighting Co., est. 1885

Museum Artifact: Art-O-Lite Reflector Art Lamp, c. 1930s

Made By: American Reflector & Lighting Company, 100 South Jefferson St., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Unity MFG Co., est. 1918

Museum Artifact: Unity Model S-3 Safety Light, c. 1940

Made By: Unity Manufacturing Company, 2909 S. Indiana Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Pyle-National Company, est. 1897

Museum Artifact: Industrial Drop Light Cage, 1920s

Made By: Pyle-National Co., 1334 N. Kostner Ave., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Hibbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co., est. 1855

Museum Artifact: OVB No. 2 Kerosene Lantern, c. 1920s

Made By: Hibbard Spencer Bartlett & Co., 211 E. North Water Street

“Hardware seems to those who sell it to be more human than any other kind of business.” That’s how journalist Fred C. Kelly sized up the stock and trade of Hibbard, Spencer & Bartlett in 1930, on the occasion of the wholesale company’s 75th anniversary.

Western Fluorescent Light Co., est. 1950

Museum Artifacts: Chelsea Hotel “Fire Escape” Lighted Sign and Lighted “Exit” Sign, c. 1950s

Made By: Western Fluorescent Light Co., 3242-4 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago, IL

Research is underway on this one and a full write-up will be coming soon.

Big Beam and the U-C Lite MFG Co., est. 1938

Museum Artifact: Big Beam No. 164 Sealed Beam Beacon Lamp, 1950s

Made By: U-C Lite MFG Co., 1050 W. Hubbard St., Chicago, IL

First of all, don’t call it a flashlight. This life-saving, mid-century necessity is a “hand lamp” (or “hand lantern”), and very similar models are still being manufactured today—by the original company—at a plant in suburban Crystal Lake, Illinois. The business is now known as Big Beam Emergency Systems,

Sterling Electric Heater by Chicago Electric MFG Co., c. 1940s

Chicago Electric MFG, Co., 6333 W. 65th Street., Chicago, IL

This impressive looking mid-century coil space heater is one of two items in our collection made by the Chicago Electric Manufacturing Company. You can read the full epic tale of Chicago Electric and its most famous president, Errett Lobban Cord, on our page for the heat lamp’s summertime sister, the Sterling Desk Fan.

Read the Full Company History of the Chicago Electric MFG Co.