Hi all, Here is my example of the No.4A Ulfers Mfg. Co. table lamp, also known as the Perfection and Radiolite lamp, probably made around 1920. Lamp patents were filed in 1914 (US1231715) by F.E. Davis and 1915 (US1231673) by Ira Ulfers and F.E. Asimos and were granted 3rd of May 1917 for the Perfection Vapor Light Company, Milwaukee. The second patent shows the lamp as it turned out in production, so maybe the lamp manufacturing could have started as early as 1914/15. My lamp is stamped in the bottom with Ulfers Mfg. Co. logo and that company also filed for and was the patent holder of a shade holder patent (US1374576 ) by H.J.Keith in March 1919 (granted April 1921). The shade holder from this patent is the shade holder we've seen on the lamp examples that have surfaced. So somewhere between May 1917 and March 1919 the Ulfers Mfg.Co. would have taken over the Perfection Vapor Light Company, a company Ira Ulfers had started in 1914 together with L.R. Bissell and F.E. Davis. From around 1921 on......... the Radiolite Mfg. Co./ Milwaukee Radiolite Corporation was the producer of this lamp a couple of years into the mid 20,s. The original Perfection Vapor Light Company patents were now own by the Radiolite Co.. The company says in "Radiolite" 37796[/ATTACH] .....and a "before shot".............
In the Freeport Directories there is no mention of Ulfers in 1919 but in 1921 there is an entry for the Ulfers Mfg Co with President and General Manager Ira Ulfers, Vice President and Secretary Martin M Ulfers, Treasurer Mrs Anne S Ulfers. So this was a family business with the Brothers Ira and Martin with Ira’s Wife Anne as company officers. It therefore seems that Ulfers MFG Co dates from 1919. ::Neil::
Congratulations with yet another fine and stylish lamp Conny. The shade is stunning too. Thanks for sharing. Claus C
Jean and Claus - Thanks, the Pretzel shade is my favorite opal shade and was used among others for the Nulite 110 lamp. /Conny
Conny, I happened to be doing some research and came across your topic. Firstly, that is a lovely lamp and a wonderful restoration. Yes, from September, 1914, Perfection Vapor Lamps were offered for sale. Neil, Jan, 1919 is the earliest mention of Ulfers MFG I can see. In 1921 Ulfers Mfg ceased trading and leased the building that they owned to The Barnwell Manufacturing Company. The lease began on August 1, 1921. The Barnwell Manufacturing Company did light machine work such as shower rod and towel holders, soap holders etc. There was no mention, in the article that I read, that they intended to keep manufacturing the Perfection lamp. In fact, they emptied the factory and concreted the floors and brought in a car load of machinery that suited their purposes. The last record I can find for this lamp is The New Perfection Vapor Lamp, as sold by Ulfers Mfg, in April of1921.
Conny, It was my pleasure. Funny enough, I came across this today. It is a 2012 report condemning the Perfection Vapor Light site as contaminated and mentioned Perfection by name.
