this 500 DBD lamp appears in a 1927 catalogue I own, but could be an earlier production. It was named 510 with a silk lampshade. DBD was a hardware merchant wholesale importer of tools and american household items just after the first war. The firm has been created in 1919 by Dutrut André, Bernier Georges, Elie Desrues, François Blanc under the name "Franco American Hardware & Tools Co", but more knowed as DBD. Adresses : 15, rue de Marseille, Paris X and also 68 et 70 quai de Jemmapes also 1, 3, 5, 7 rue Alibert à Paris. they were the successors of "Anciens établissements Lechevretel et Eeckhout / heeckhout et Foubert, founded in 1834. (Fabrique d'ustensiles de ménage) The company sold (constructed?) DBD and Liberty burners, and DBD lamps and Liberty lamps. There is a catalog from 1920 in which one sees the DBD and Liberty burners which are very close to Noel burners I have not found any patent for this firm relating to lighting or lamps. This company has a specialty of "wholesale hardware - House- lighting- equipment". One can imagine that it has outsourced production, but this is not certain. She may have a small production workshop. The production of lighting equipment is no longer quoted in 1935 in the "registre du Commerce" (trade register) The burner is very simple : 2 intake tubes and a heating chamber with a asbestos filter. No needle, the jet is filled with steel wool. the pump in easy to repair, as Tilley's pump, it can be unscrewed for fettling job. The lamp runs with gasoline and is perhaps 150/200 CP power.
Great and interesting lamp Michel; you´ve done a nice restore on this one ! Was it originally plated? /Conny
Very very nice lamp Michel . Gratulation. The burner looks a bit "Bec Lor"-like with Tilley-features. Claus C
next work ; the lamp was fitted with a silk shade. I'll try to do one, perhaps not with silk but ... Claus ; Yes a small family resemblance with the LOR burner but in fact much simpler, the upper tube is only for the air intakes, no needle knob ...because no needle at all ;-)
Hmmm not bad . It looks modern (1960) in a way, compared to the "usually" glass-globes and the way the "cage" is split in two, fits the fabric-shade well and makes it look genuine. Claus C
Hi all A little update concerning the creation's year of DBD. I thought this was 1919 but on this 1931 catalogue's page, one can see 1908. The move of the seat of the Company to 68/70 Quai de Jemmapes (initialy 15 rue de Marseille) is from october 1923, with a growth of the society capital. the link between DBD and the SIAE (Société Industrielle d'Articles d'Eclairage or "Lumière Noel") is noticeable on this manometer. I am pretty sure DBD never made any lamp or stove. Catalogues are full of swedish items for a part and french stuff for another part. But this are only resales. DBD lamps were produced by the SIAE. One can see LN for "Lumière Noel" and SIE for "Société Industrielle d'Eclairage" Furthermore : the "Liberty" burners are very very close to "Noel" burners which have been patented in 1907/08 by Ernest Noel (patents n°FR382996/FR 395623)
1908 only app 10 years after the first pressurelamp. I always gets a bit impressed by the lamps went through their transformation from the first overengineered, and sometimes clumsy lamps, to at lamp like this. Fully equipped with the well-known hanging mantle, manometer and air-releasscrew and pumpe-valve in just 10 years . Claus C
Yes Claus, I agree with you the evolution was very rapid. As you can see in this patent from E.Noel, all is in place : the filter, the needle command, the 3 air intake tubes, the mantle holder. This patent is the very close drawing of Le Parfait burner from Liotard (circa 1910) and the needle command by the top has been monted on Unic burners (circa 1925) Obviously, there is a connection between all those brands. As we find this kind of burner in many french brands, I guess that E.Noel had sold them the right to use his patent or he had shares in those companies.
In general a patent is only valid for a limited period after grant date. That time scale did vary a little in different countries but since there was some international agreement most were 7 years. So this patent could therefore have been copied without legal problems after 1914. The Lilor burner might have been made with permission but Unic probably not. ::Neil::
