Looking for history of this 20th Century MFG. Co. Lamp
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Looking for history of this 20th Century MFG. Co. Lamp
by Matthew Noecker (nmatt25@comcast.net)
Posted: Feb. 17, 2009 @ 23:02.
I am trying to research this lamp and get some history of the company and the use of the lamp.
On the back there is stamped in the metal -
20th Century MFG. Co. and Made in U.S. of America .
On the bottom is stamped -
Patented June 4. 1895 United States, England, France, Belgium, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Spain, Cuba, Canada, Victoria, New Zealand, New South Wales, and other countries. Design Patented May 28. 1895 "1897 & 1898 other Patents Granted & Pending"
One side has Green glass window and the other side has a Red glass window.
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On Feb. 18, 2009 @ 04:10, Dan Edminster (dan@thelampworks.com) wrote:
Matthew,
What you have is a bicycle lamp. Cycling was all the rage in the mid- to late-1890's and lamp makers took full advantage of the demand and manufactured scores, if not hundreds, of variants on the theme. Virtually every major manufacturer of lighting made bike lamps - Plume & Atwood, The Hitchcock Lamp Co., Edward Miller, Manhattan Brass, and more. The years 1896-1898 seemed to be the peak period for these items.
According to Peter Card, R.G. Betts started the Betts Patent Headlight Co. in 1895. In 1898 it was renamed the 20th Century Manufacturing Company. In addition to the kerosene-burning bike lamp, they made acetylene bike lamps, street lamps and automobile lighting. Your lamp was patented by Lewis F. Betts who held at least thirty patents for bike lamps, lanterns and other lighting devices. Lewis' brother, Charles L. Betts, also a prolific inventor, appears to have worked primarily for R.E. Dietz as most of his later patents are assigned to them.
For additional information on Bike lamps, try Early Cycle Lighting 1868-1948 by Peter Card. Chris Brooks, another authority on bike lamps, has a book coming out later this year as well.
Regards,
Dan