This a small Gloria table lamp, made in the USA. Neil McRae has it listed as Model E. The model dates from around 1916 but I don't know how long they were made for. The generator in this lamp is an Australian-made Gloria generator and dates from 1934 or thereabouts. Found in Australia; a little bit delicate, but up and running. Of course, in this photo, the shade is not original and the filler cap/check valve is from another lamp and has been modified. The silver solder repair to the generator is obvious in this photo. It has since been cleaned up somewhat This would be what the original filler cap/check valve would have been like. Iam on the search for one. The bottom of this tank will be treated to stabilise the rust. You can also see some solder repairs to small pin hole leaks in the rim. The fount will next be treated with tank sealer. This is the shade holder that came with the lamp. It is smaller in diameter than a normal Gloria shade holder. It may be homemade: Up and running. Running on kerosene. As it came. From the eBay listing. I had to repair the control wheel. I repacked the generator (not seeing two hairline cracks in the bottom hex - see below) I put brass mesh in the bottom and top hex pieces on the generator, and at each end of the new packing.. On first lighting there was vapourised fuel emitted from the hairline cracks in the bottom hex, so I sealed them with silver solder. The generator is still serviceable from the jet end. It's a great little lamp and I hope I can get a filler cap/check valve for it. Cheers Tony
Larry Thanks for the 1914 date from the Acme Brass Works add. Do you think the burner and generator in the 1914 add is the same as mine? My understanding is that there is 1916 Gloria paperwork showing this lamp with a match-lighter generator. It’s very interesting to me that these very early portable table lamps were imported into Australia for retail sale. Cheers Tony @coleman54
Tony, I have no other information on this lamp, but the way the lamp is clocked and illustrated it is impossible for me, any way to determine if it is or not the same burner. With yours viewed oriented the same as the advert they look very similar. . According to the July 1914 Underwriters’ Laboratories Inc. list of inspected gas appliances “Acme” is identified as being manufactured by National Stamping 410S. Clinton st. Chicago Ill. @Tony Press Larry
Larry, I assume, but am not certain, that Acme Brass Works is the same as Acme Brass Manufacturing Co. Do you agree? These Chicago manufacturers and retailers seem to have a fairly fluid set of alliances. Cheers Tony @coleman54
Tony, I certainly agree about the alliance’s being very fluid. I personally have not researched the company’s names and it is only identified as “Acme” in the listing. @Tony Press Larry
This lamp is shown in Gloria catalogues 21 and 22 which are about 1916-1917 so 1914 takes this one back a couple of years so thanks for that advert Larry. Acme Brass is listed in the Chicago directories for 1914 at 1427 Caroll Avenue with Robert Doran as President and Eli Doud as treasurer. Doran was also President of Gloria in 1914 and earlier both Doran and Doud had been officers with Acorn Brass when James Knight had been president. I assume the link with National Stamping Larry mentioned is because Acorn Brass was purchased from the receiver in February 1914. I can't find any evidence that Acme and Acorn were the same company and in fact after 1915 the two companies are listed in the directories separately with different officers. ::Neil::
Thanks Neil, I recall showing this advert to Matt Purtell in years past and he informed me that the Bank reference mentioned in this advert board of directors may have had a family link here too. @Tony Press @Mackburner Larry
Matt dug a lot deeper into some of these companies than I did but just from the directory lists there was a deal of shared interest in many of the Chicago lighting companies. I don't have the incorporation papers for Acme so I don't know all the shareholders but from the Acorn, Gloria and National Stamping registrations there is certainly some commonality of investors although not necessarily at the same time. In a lot of cases there are lawyers and bankers amongst them so an Acme shareholder with interest in a bank is very likely. That burner was used by Gloria on the split ball fount and the Turban Coleman AA type and on later types up to maybe the mid 1920s. I don't know when the ball fount dates from but I guess it pre dates the turban so maybe 1910 to 1912 ish. The turban was around from about 1912 to at least 1916-17 so that 1914 ad most likely did have the same burner on the Gloria E Radiant type tank although in 1914 I would assume it to be a heavy torch lighting generator. ::Neil::
Great info on this post! Found this Model E here in Canada last winter It's missing the generator and shade. I would like to find a generator for it now! Agostino
Agostino Old Coleman Parts have reproduction generators. They don’t look exactly the same, but they work well and I’ve used one in another Gloria. The bottom of the tapered screw might be too wide for the Model E… let me check tomorrow with some measurements. Cheers Tony @adelcoro
