L.132

An ordinary American metal lamp by Bradley & Hubbard, charmingly finished in brass and copper colours.

I liked this plain looking American lamp because of the beautiful ornamentation on the entire lamp body. Also, the burner was complete with the correct flame disc, which is quite rare in American lamps. The lamp had a very dark tarnish. When I cleaned the lamp, I noticed that it had a two-tone design: the base and lid are brass, while the vase is copper (or copper-plated brass).

Several patent dates are visible on the burner and on the flame disc. According to this, the lamp was made shortly after 1890 (see Courter: Center-draft Kerosene Lamps, page 73, dated to 1896). The original wick was very short and used up. I had to order a replacement wick.

The supplied shade holder with only three arms without a shade holder hoop proved to be a bit too small for a normal 10 inch American shade. It was also loose at soldered joints. So I bought a new shade holder from the USA.

The Vesta shade is attractively painted: At the top of the neck it is a pale pink. Towards the bottom the colour gradually changes to light green. On this background, beautiful flowers are painted in pastel colours (three times the same motif). This makes this shade stand out very pleasantly from the other gaudy paintings of GWTW lamps from the USA.

In carefully cleaned and polished condition and with the shade in a well-matching colour, the lamp shines as if it had been made only yesterday.  

Lamp Data

Added by me:
Glass chimney, Vesta shade and shade holder.

Cleaning and repairs:
Lamp body and burner carefully cleaned and polished.

Lamp body:
Base and vase lid of ornamentally embossed sheet brass. Base Ø 164 mm, vase lid Ø 158 mm. At the base and at the short column air holes for central draft air intake.
Vase made of ornamentally embossed copper (or copper-plated brass).
Vase is also a font. Extra oil filler with ornamentally embossed cap.

Burner:
USA #2 center-draft burner of Bradley & Hubbard, USA.
Burner marked: Mar.27.1888  Feb.11.1890.
No wick knob, but special wick lifter at the font. Wick holder marked: Pat'd May 28.1888 (or 1889?).
Original flame disc, marked: The B&H Lamp  Pat'd Aug.20. & Oct.15.1889.
Round wick Ø 40 mm.

Glass chimney:
USA #2 Vienna type chimney. Height 260 mm, Ø fitter 66 mm.
New production without brand.

Shade and shade holder:
Vesta shade, white milk glass, painted flowers on a light pink to light green ground, flat upper rim. Probably from the middle of the 20th century.
Height 180 mm, Ø fitter 246 and bulge 303 mm.
250 mm shade holder for USA #2 center-draft burners; for mounting under the burner.

Lamp dimensions:
Height up to collar 23.6 cm, total height with chimney 52.8 cm.
Total weight 2600 g.