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I have not had much time to get many items in the forsale area below. Please keep checking back as I will start adding more items soon.

Items For Sale

Switch Material
Electrical Code
Mica Insulation
CP or WATTS Marks
Socket Bead/Rib/UNO
Catalogs & Ads
Patents
Pull Chains / Finials

Bulb & Socket Bases
View images of the most well known bulb and socket bases
Socket & Electrical Manufacturer's Items And Their History
GECO Sockets
This section will allow you to date and learn how to tell one GECO socket from the other.
Hubbell
This is where this site started from. Since this page was done, there has been much more Hubbell history and information found which will make for a complete redesign of this page and section in the soon future.
Hubbell Patents
This section has some early patent research on Hubbell. It is mostly complete with only a few missing patents which will be added in when this section is re done into the new format
Wheeler Reflector Co.
A history of The Wheeler Reflector Company and tips on how to tell if mirror has been replaced on a shade
Other Manufacturers
This section is a lot of incomplete work and will be updated shortly. For now it serves to give you some extended information on some companies, but will be a much better tool when it is complete
NEC
This section is everything you ever wanted to know about the National Electrical Code (NEC) but had no one to ask. Downloads of old NEC's, meetings and much extended information is provided.

Cord Balls & Adjusters
My cord pendant adjuster project, as well as a good history about them.
GECO Sockets

More companies will be added to this list in the near future. We will also be adding a new list of post 1900 sockets and items.
Bergmann & Co.
Brush Electric Co.
Bryant Electric Co.
Crown Elect MFG Co.
EE&S
Holmes & Gale (HG)
Perkins
Thomson-Houston
Westinghouse
Tutorial And Early Lighting History


The Lighting Time Table

To read the entire tutorial, you can just click on the first link and then continue to the next section at the bottom of each page. Or, you can select links below of interest to you.

PRE 1900 SECTION

Overcoming Obstacles
About Early Electric Lighting, Generators, Arc Lamps, The First Edison Socket, Menlo Park, etc.
The First Fixtures
About The Start Of The First Incandescent Lighting Fixtures
Light Reflection
About Early Light Bulbs And Candle Power vs. WATTS
Edison-Bergmann
About Sigmund Bergmann And The Start Of Bergmann And Company Lighting Fixtures
Lighting Break Down
A Quick Break Down Of Different Lighting Time Periods
Styles 1881 to 1884
Bergmann Fixtures And Styles
Other Pre-1888 Styles
About Early Companies That Sold Lighting Systems And The Fixtures That They Sold With Their Lighting Systems
The U.S. Elect. Co.
The United States Electric Company History And Early Items
The Brush Elect. Co.
The Brush Electric Company History And Early Items
Thomson-Houston
The Thomson-Houston Electric Company History And Early Items
Westinghouse
About The Westinghouse Manufacturing Company History And Early Mergers
Mid 1880's Styles
About The Start Of Electrical Supply Houses and how new lighting styles came about
Pre 1900 Sockets
About Early Light Sockets And How To Tell The Difference
1887 New Items
1888 New Items
1890 New Items
1891 New Items
1892 New Items
1893 New Items
1894-1896 Items
1897 New Items
1898 New Items
1899 New Items
Above are catalog items sold in different years. There is no space to duplicate items, so only new and unique items from each year are shown. You would need to view the catalogs for yourself to be complete as I am only highlighting items. You can view catalogs here.

EXTRA INFO
Victor Shade Holder
About The Victor Shade Holder, Atwood And The Standard Holder

I.P. Frink 1899 Items
About Frink & Wheeler
New Wheeler Inverted
Three Links About Mirror Reflector Manufacturers And Their Items And History.
Wheeler Reflector Co.
NEW - A history of The Wheeler Reflector Company and tips on how to tell if mirror has been replaced on a shade

Early Desk Lamps
Some Help In Telling Them Apart

Vitrite And Luminoid
About The Vitrite Holders And Early Vitrite History

Brush-Swan Holder
About Brush-Swan Shade Holders

Cord Balls
My cord pendant adjuster project, as well as a good history about them.

POST 1900 SECTION
About 1900 Styles
This section covers a basic into into the 1900 section covering information about the 1899 transition, electrical code changes, lighting influence, sharing and licensing of patents and then into the new section of electrical specialty manufacturers,

Electrical Specialty Manufacturers
Harvey Hubbell
This section covers some early history periods of pre Hubbell-Grier, Hubbell-Grier, Harvey Hubbell, Hubbell Company. It also covers a number of items that helped change lighting styles,

Benjamin
This section covers some early history periods for the Benjamin Electric MFG. Co, as well as a small section on Dale and The Federal Electric Company
Dale
Federal Electric

This post 1900 section continues to be under current construction

Please Check Back.



WHO'S WHO?
Patent History Of Socket And Switch Manufacturers, Inventors And Their Inventions

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Henry C. Baer Charles Bakeley / Charles Akers Charles Hammond Balsley
Frederic Barr William A. Richardson Charles A. Beal
Frank M. Bell Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Co. Sigmund Bergmann
(Bergmann & Co.)
Bernstein Electric Light Manufacturing Company Best Electric Company William L. Bliss
Ralph W. Borchert Fred B. Bowers / Edia R. Ramsey David E. Bown
Edwin Morse Bradford Thomas H. Brady Bridgeport Brass Company
Bristol Brass & Clock Company Brooklyn Electric Construction Company The Bryant Electric Company
(Waldo C. Bryant)
Samuel Buchsbaum Charles G. Burton  


Patent(s) Assigned To:

Charles A. Beal, of Abington Massachusetts
Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
551357 INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP
Patent Class:
315/322		 Inventor:
Charles A. Beal



Patent Applied For: 02/28/1895
Patent Approved On: 12/17/1895

Witnesses:
B. J. Noyes
Florence H. Davis
 

Patent(s) Assigned To:

Frank M. Bell, of New York N.Y.
Willma Pollack, of New York N.Y.
Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
612152 ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET
Patent Class:
439/220		 Inventor:
Frank M. Bell

Assigned To:
Frank M. Bell, of New York N.Y.
Willma Pollack, of New York N.Y.

Patent Applied For: 01/10/1898
Patent Approved On: 10/11/1898

Witnesses:
Gustave Dieterich
John Kehlenbeck
 

Patent(s) Assigned To:

Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company, of Chicago Illinois

Inventor Names Of Patent Ref. No. First Patent Applied For
Reuben B. Benjamin Chicago Illinois 721776 05/20/1898
Nelson Weeks Richmond Hill New York 992306 05/17/1904
Ernst G. K. Anderson Chicago Illinois 1025230 05/12/1909
Ernst Anderson already had a socket patent assigned to himself.
Patent No. 861692 Filed 11/15/1906

The Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Company merged with Thomas Industries in 1958. In 1963, the company opened a new 250,000-square foot lighting fixture plant in Sparta, Tennessee, to replace the Benjamin Electric facility in Illinois, which was then closed.



PLURAL LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 721776

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 02/07/1902
Approved: 03/03/1903

Patent Class:
200/51.03

Witnesses:
W. Clyde Jones
M. R. Rochford


CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 852489

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 01/31/03
Approved: 05/07/1907

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
Edwin B. H. Towne Jr.
M. R. Rochford


TWIN LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 852490

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 02/29/04
Approved: 05/07/1907

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
M. R. Rochford
E. A. Olsen


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 861941

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 07/14/1904
Approved: 07/30/1907

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
C. B. Camp
E. A. Olsen




ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 879724

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 02/29/1904
Approved: 02/18/1908

Patent Class:
439/667

Witnesses:
M. R. Rochford
E. A. Olsen


CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 938632

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 10/28/1907
Approved: 11/02/1909

Patent Class:
439/340

Witnesses:
M. L. Farrar
C. L. Hopkins


CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 950650

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 02/08/1908
Approved: 03/01/1910

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
C. L. Hopkins
Arthur H. Boettcher


CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 950652

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 04/14/1908
Approved: 03/01/1910

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
Arthur H. Boettcher
M. L. Farrar

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 980913

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 04/14/1908
Approved: 01/10/1911

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
Arthur H. Boettcher
M. S. Farrar

ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 981242

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 02/17/1908
Approved: 02/10/1911

Patent Class:
439/543

Witnesses:
Arthur H. Boettcher
C. L. Hopkins

CANOPY SWITCH

Pat. No. 982345

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 12/28/1907
Approved: 01/24/1911

Patent Class:
200/413

Witnesses:
M. L. Farrar
Charles L. Hopkins

CLUSTER LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 992306

Inventor:
Nelson Weeks

Applied: 05/17/1904
Approved: 05/16/1911

Patent Class:
200/51.03

Witnesses:
F. Warren Wright
Hubert Howson


ELECTRIC SWITCH

Pat. No. 1005926

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 07/18/1907
Approved: 10/17/1911

Patent Class:
200/413

Witnesses:
M. L. Harrar
C. L. Hopkins




SWITCH SOCKET

Pat. No. 1021177

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 04/10/1909
Approved: 03/26/1912

Patent Class:
200/446

Witnesses:
C. L. Hopkins
W. Perry Hahn


LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1025230

Inventor:
Ernst G. K. Anderson

Applied: 05/12/1909
Approved: 05/07/1912

Patent Class:
200/51.02

Witnesses:
Charles G. Cope
C. L. Hopkins




SWITCH SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 1025237

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 06/28/1909
Approved: 05/07/1912

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
Charles G. Cope
Charles L. Hopkins


PLURAL LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1043179

Inventor:
Nelson Weeks

Applied: 10/12/1904
Approved: 11/05/1912

Patent Class:
439/541

Witnesses:
Seward Davis
Oliver Williams


LAMP SUPPORTING DEVICE

Pat. No. 1088866

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 04/07/1911
Approved: 03/03/1914

Patent Class:
362/437

Witnesses:
Mabel Reynolds
Charles G. Cope


LAMP SUPPORTING DEVICE

Pat. No. 1088868

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 12/10/1913
Approved: 03/03/1914

Patent Class:
337/19

Witnesses:
Mabel Reynolds
Charles G. Cope


INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1102638

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 10/28/1907
Approved: 07/07/1914

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
M. L. Farrar
C. L. Hopkins


PULL SWITCH SOCKET

Pat. No. 1102639

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 11/03/1910
Approved: 07/07/1914

Patent Class:
362/295

Witnesses:
E. R. King
Mabel Reynolds




LAMP SOCKET CASING

Pat. No. 1108678

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 03/01/1912
Approved: 08/25/1914

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
Mabel Reynolds
C. E. Kane


PENDANT SWITCH

Pat. No. 1170599

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 11/18/1910
Approved: 02/08/1916

Patent Class:
200/427

Witnesses:
E. R. King
Mabel Reynolds




CONDUCTOR GRIP

Pat. No. 1206085

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 04/19/1912
Approved: 11/28/1916

Patent Class:
439/462

Witnesses:
Charles G. Cope
Mabel Reynolds




SWITCH CONTAINING ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1238477

Inventor:
Ernst G. K. Anderson

Applied: 10/17/1912
Approved: 08/28/1917

Patent Class:
200/51.14

Witnesses:
Ed Detrick
P. D. Philips


RECEPTACLE

Pat. No. 1245305

Inventor:
Ernst G. K. Anderson

Applied: 01/03/1916
Approved: 11/06/1917

Patent Class:
200/51.09

Witnesses:
W. Smith
None




LAMP SOCKET CASING

Pat. No. 1247492

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 04/19/1912
Approved: 11/20/1917

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
Mabel Reynolds
Charles G. Cope


SNAP SWITCH

Pat. No. 1293309

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 10/20/1916
Approved: 02/04/1919

Patent Class:
200/410

Witnesses:
W. Smith
None


RECEPTACLE

Pat. No. 1320196

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 11/06/1915
Approved: 10/28/1919

Patent Class:
200/51.09

Witnesses:
P. D. Philips
M. J. Cleary


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1336607

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 01/29/1915
Approved: 04/13/1920

Patent Class:
439/667

Witnesses:
Margaret Thielen
Anne Solomon


ILLUMINATING DEVICE

Pat. No. 1352777

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 01/18/1916
Approved: 09/14/1920

Patent Class:
362/287

Witnesses:
None
None




ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE

Pat. No. 1355301

Inventor:
Reuben B. Benjamin

Applied: 05/29/1917
Approved: 10/12/1920

Patent Class:
439/667

Witnesses:
W. Smith
None

Patent(s) Assigned To:

Sigmund Bergmann, of New York N.Y.
Edward H. Johnson & Sigmund Bergmann of New York N.Y.
Bergmann & Co. of New York N.Y.

Inventor Names Of Patent Ref. No. First Patent Applied For
Sigmund Bergmann New York N.Y. 257277 02/25/1882
Edward H. Johnson New York N.Y. 263103 02/25/1882
John T Dempster Summit New Jersy 443746 05/24/1890
Charles J. Klein New York N.Y. 484207 12/28/1889

Notes: Bergmann, a longtime friend and business partner of Edison's, had an exclusive agreement to make fixtures for Edison lamps. The bases for the lamps were at first made in the laboratory; then Sigmund Bergmann, who began working in Edison�s Newark Shops in 1870, went into business for himself in 1876 making fixtures and appliances for Edison's electric light. Edison rented laboratory space in Bergmann's building at 292-298 Avenue B, in New York, and also had a share in Bergmann's business. In April 1881 there was a partnership between Sigmund Bergmann and Edward H. Johnson. It manufactured electric lighting fixtures, sockets, and other devices used with the Edison system of electric lighting. Edison joined the partnership in September 1882. (*In early 1881 Edison expanded this licensing arrangement to turn Sigmund Bergmann & Co. (shown in picture to the right) into one of the core Edison manufacturing companies, forming a three way partnership between Bergmann, himself, and another close associate Edward Johnson. This company produced fixtures, sockets, connectors, and assorted other small devices for the Edison system. Consistent with the personal trust at the center of the relationship, the partnership was not to be legally formalized for another year.*) The company merged with several other Edison companies in 1889 to become the Edison General Electric Company.

Bergmann also founded a company named The General Incandescent Lamp Company.



SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 257277

Inventor:
Sigmund Bergmann


Applied: 02/25/1882
Approved: 05/02/1882

Patent Class:
439/666

Witnesses:
WM. H. Meadowcroft
H. W. Seely


ELECTRIC CHANDELIER


Pat. No. 263103

Inventor/Assigned:
Sigmund Bergmann
Edward H. Johnson

Applied: 02/25/1882
Approved: 08/22/1882

Patent Class:
439/537

Witnesses:
WM. H. Meadowcroft
H. W. Seely


SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 298658

Inventor:
Sigmund Bergmann


Applied: 10/09/1882
Approved: 05/13/1884

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
Richd. N. Dyer
H. W. Seely


SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 311100

Inventor:
Sigmund Bergmann


Applied: 04/10/1884
Approved: 01/20/1885

Patent Class:
200/51.12

Witnesses:
WM. H. Meadowcroft
T. G. Greene Jr.


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 389280

Inventor:
Sigmund Bergmann

Applied: 06/02/1888
Approved: 09/11/1888

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
P. H. Klein Jr.
E. W. Little



ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 443746

Inventor:
John T Dempster

Applied: 05/24/1890
Approved: 12/30/1890

Patent Class:
439/667

Witnesses:
John W. McGhie
Jno. F. Geidel


INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 484207

Inventor:
Charles J. Klein

Applied: 12/28/1889
Approved: 10/11/1892

Patent Class:
439/276

Witnesses:
D. H. Driscoll
W. Pelzer


  


Patent(s) Assigned To:

The Bernstein Electric Light Manufacturing Company, of Portland Maine
Inventor Names Of Patent Ref. No. First Patent Applied For
Oscar S. Bussmann Somerville Massachusetts
 397109 10/12/1887
George R. Lean Boston Massachusetts 444567 03/27/1890

Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
397109 SWITCH AND CUT-OUT FOR ELECTRIC LIGHTS
Patent Class:
315/125		 Inventor:
Oscar S. Bussmann

Assigned To:
The Bernstein Electric Light Manufacturing Company

Patent Applied For: 10/12/1887
Patent Approved On: 02/05/1889

Witnesses:
Bernice J. Noyes
B. Dewar
 
Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
444567 INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET
Patent Class:
200/51R ; 200/51.1
 Inventor:
George R. Lean

Assigned To:
The Bernstein Electric Light Manufacturing Company

Patent Applied For: 03/27/1890
Patent Approved On: 01/13/1891

Witnesses:
Bernice J. Noyes
Emma J. Bennett
 

Patent(s) Assigned To:

Best Electric Company, A Corporation of Deleware

Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
1078813 LAMP-SOCKET
Patent Class:
200/51.14		 Inventor:
Clarence A. Vetter

Assigned To:
Best Electric Company

Patent Applied For: 09/24/1912
Patent Approved On: 11/18/1913

Witnesses:
C. M. Clarke
Fredk. Staub
 


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