Lighting Up With Sheaffer
Lamps are a relatively modern invention and the use with pens comes relatively quickly after. The light bulb came before Edison but it took his combination of factors to make the first reliable light bulb – it lasted over 40 hours in 1897. It took adding Coolidge’s tungsten filiment to make the modern bulb as we know it in 1910. This enabled us to have lamps to work by which aided in the development of the modern office. Lamps for localized lighting were crutial as the general office space was lit with incandescent light bulbs as well so it was hard to provide enough light. Most of Sheaffers lamps predate 1940 with very few after. Was it a change of fashion? No, generalized lighting was able to provide ample light after the invention of the flourescent bulb in 1938 virtually eliminating the need for localized lamps. (1)
Sheaffer started offering lamps in their 1928 catalogue. By 1940 there were 25 different models that had been offered. The lamps were supplied by many of the lamp makers of the day. The first three lamps offered in 1928 were sizable desk lamps weighing around 10 pounds each.
1928 Bankers Lamp
Lamp DeLuxe
The first one used a removable desk base of the single #10 or the double #19. The latter used the insert sockets which utilize adjustable sliders that act as cleats and grip the holes in the marble. This was quickly changed to the newer brass nut direct mount sockets.
By the 1930 catalogue there were seven lamps including the second lamp from the prior catalogue. These are still heavy affairs mounted on a significant piece of marble except for two: one on brass and the Partner lamp mounted on black walnut.
The Lamp DeLuxe is now called the 307 and has switched to Pedrara Onyx
Partner Lamp
The next catalogue is 1935 with two lamps. These are not cheap items being $75 and $125.
The 1936 catalogue issues in the lamp for the masses with a $10 lamp. It is extremely small on a block of painted wood. There is still an upscale $50 lamp offered as well.
K043
Designs keep changes with the 1937 offerings of six lamps, five of new design. These vary from $12.50 to $50.
P085
1938 1 new and the long running V079 which was introduced in 1935.
R215
1939 1 new $12.50 and $60
N308
1940 3 completely brand new models $12.50-35
N328
(1) A History of Light and Lighting – Bill Williams http://www.mts.net/~william5/history/hol.htm
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By S, April 27, 2009 @ 11:18 am
This is a query rather than a comment…and about the bankers lamp…wondering if you know whether the traditional bankers lamps were made with green glass or painted green.