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- Color Wheel Used to Project Light on an Aluminum Christmas Tree, 1960-1965 - Aluminum Christmas trees gleamed in millions of American homes during the 1960s. The trees were lightweight, easy to care for, and eye-catching, especially when illuminated by light from a revolving color wheel. The trees fell out of style by the early 1970s, yet are fondly remembered and sometimes still shine in homes during the Christmas season.
- 1960-1965
- Collections - Artifact
Color Wheel Used to Project Light on an Aluminum Christmas Tree, 1960-1965
Aluminum Christmas trees gleamed in millions of American homes during the 1960s. The trees were lightweight, easy to care for, and eye-catching, especially when illuminated by light from a revolving color wheel. The trees fell out of style by the early 1970s, yet are fondly remembered and sometimes still shine in homes during the Christmas season.
- Patent Model of Lamp Wick, 1870 - From 1790 to 1880, the U.S. Patent Office required applicants to submit a miniature model along with diagrams and written descriptions detailing the operation of their invention. Patent models could be no larger than 12" by 12" by 12". Though they were usually not operational, these models helped explain an inventor's idea and protect it from competitors.
- December 27, 1870
- Collections - Artifact
Patent Model of Lamp Wick, 1870
From 1790 to 1880, the U.S. Patent Office required applicants to submit a miniature model along with diagrams and written descriptions detailing the operation of their invention. Patent models could be no larger than 12" by 12" by 12". Though they were usually not operational, these models helped explain an inventor's idea and protect it from competitors.
- National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900 - Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- 1886-1900
- Collections - Artifact
National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900
Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- Kerosene Lamp, 1860-1875 -
- 1860-1875
- Collections - Artifact
Kerosene Lamp, 1860-1875
- National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900 - Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- 1886-1900
- Collections - Artifact
National Carbon Company Philadelphia Arc Light Carbon, 1886-1900
Carbon plates, like these, were used in arc lamps, the first widely used form of electric light in the late 1800s. The lamp's brilliant light, created by an electric arc between precisely spaced plates, effectively illuminated city streets, factories, and other large areas--though falling sparks could prove hazardous. Eventually, improvements in other types of arc discharge lamps made carbon plates virtually obsolete.
- Woman Using Time Clock at the Main Plant, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1911 - Employees at the H.J. Heinz Company main plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began and ended their workdays in the Time Office. Henry Heinz himself worked to design and construct this building, referred to by the company as "a combination of elegance, splendor and beauty." Here you can see the row of time clocks where employees would check in and out for work each day.
- 1911
- Collections - Artifact
Woman Using Time Clock at the Main Plant, H. J. Heinz Company, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 1911
Employees at the H.J. Heinz Company main plant in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began and ended their workdays in the Time Office. Henry Heinz himself worked to design and construct this building, referred to by the company as "a combination of elegance, splendor and beauty." Here you can see the row of time clocks where employees would check in and out for work each day.
- Trade Literature for Pairpoint Electrolier No. 3037, 1899-1907 - In the early 1890s, Louis Comfort Tiffany applied the emerging Art Nouveau style to lighting products. They became so popular that other companies -- especially the Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, Massachusetts -- produced lamps to rival Tiffany's. The undulating lines and botanical motifs encircling the Pairpoint lamp depicted here are characteristic of Art Nouveau aesthetics.
- 1899-1907
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Literature for Pairpoint Electrolier No. 3037, 1899-1907
In the early 1890s, Louis Comfort Tiffany applied the emerging Art Nouveau style to lighting products. They became so popular that other companies -- especially the Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, Massachusetts -- produced lamps to rival Tiffany's. The undulating lines and botanical motifs encircling the Pairpoint lamp depicted here are characteristic of Art Nouveau aesthetics.
- Trade Literature for Pairpoint Oil Lamp No. 3021, 1899-1907 - In the early 1890s, Louis Comfort Tiffany applied the emerging Art Nouveau style to lighting products. They became so popular that other companies -- especially the Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, Massachusetts -- produced lamps to rival Tiffany's. The undulating lines, botanical motifs, and female figure encircling the Pairpoint lamp depicted here are characteristic of Art Nouveau aesthetics.
- 1899-1907
- Collections - Artifact
Trade Literature for Pairpoint Oil Lamp No. 3021, 1899-1907
In the early 1890s, Louis Comfort Tiffany applied the emerging Art Nouveau style to lighting products. They became so popular that other companies -- especially the Pairpoint Corporation of New Bedford, Massachusetts -- produced lamps to rival Tiffany's. The undulating lines, botanical motifs, and female figure encircling the Pairpoint lamp depicted here are characteristic of Art Nouveau aesthetics.
- Electric Table Lamp, 1915 -
- 1915
- Collections - Artifact
Electric Table Lamp, 1915
- Lantern, 1835-1845 -
- 1835-1845
- Collections - Artifact
Lantern, 1835-1845