TeriAnn's Guide to Aladdin and other brands of kerosene Mantle Lamps

Aladdin Lamp logo Aladdin mantle Contents  > Aladdin lamp home page 

 
 
 

 

Aladdin Lamp Contents Page

 

Other brands of kerosene mantle lamps contents page 
There are many brands of mantle lamps besides Aladdin


 

Contents

There is lots of good stuff being placed into these Aladdin lamp web pages. Check back often as I add more lamp data. I have a minimal budget to pursue my hobby so I can not afford to go out and buy pristine condition lamps. Since much of this site is illustrated by lamps from my personal collection expect to see a lot of dents and finish flaws. These are the best I can find and afford. Since I have started this site others have helped out by sending me jpeg pictures of lamps I do not have for use in this site. I appreciate your help in adding to this web site.  Thank you.

 

Models of Aladdin metal lamps, descriptions, pictures and conjectures

Models of Aladdin glass lamps, descriptions, pictures and conjectures

Models of Aladdin lamps manufactured and sold in other countries

Illustrated lexicon of Aladdin lamp terms Learn what all those lamp terms mean

Links to other collector sites, and some reputable companies that sell Aladdin lamps and lamp parts

 

History

Brief History of the Aladdin Lamp Company

Brief history of the incandescent mantle

           Early Mantle pictures

           Lox-On Aladdin Mantle pictures

Aladdin transition and factory hybrid lamps Aladdin didn't throw away parts when they introduced new models.  They used up materials on hand creating factory hybrid and transition lamps.

How-To:

How to burn an Aladdin mantle lamp

Returning a neglected Aladdin lamp to service

How to char an Aladdin wick

Aladdin Lamp Parts & Accessories:

Wick Cleaners

Demystifying wall brackets

Ceiling extensions

Filler caps

Insect & Bug screens

Aladdin chimney primer

Flame spreaders Covers mantle lamps sold in the US including Aladdin

Aladdin smoke bells  More properly called heat bells


Aladdin model 11 avertisement
1924 Aladdin catalogue for model 11 lamps. Click on image to download pdf version
Look for advertising brochures, manuals and price lists on page for each lamp model

Aladdin model 3 lamp
Model 3 chandelier No. 112

 

Aladdin model 4 lamp
Model 4 chandelier No. 113

 

Further reference sources:

Kerosene mantle lamps represent the peak of kerosene lighting technology. The lamps themselves reflect American society, manufacturing technology, and the American entrepreneurial spirit in the beginning of the 1900's. The startup costs were minimal when it comes to purchasing burners imported from Germany and placing them on brass lamp bodies manufactured in the US.  Much of America was rural and without electricity at the turn of the century.  Marketing and sales into rural America were largely through independent sales representatives going door to door with salesman cases demonstrating their wares. These lamps don't just stand alone, They are a part of the American fabric. If you look closely, you will see the fabric of the first half of the 1900's reflected in their their design, the entrepreneurs who sold and marketed the lamps, and the homes that were lit by them. Lamp collecting can be a much richer hobby than just collecting each one and placing them on display.  The hobby of collecting these lamps can be as rich as you want it to be. You might collect lamps for the hunt and display of the lamps or you might use them to better understand the evolution of kerosene lighting and lamp manufacturing technology. Whatever your interest in these lamps I hope you find something of use in this web site.

Most of this web site is dedicated to documenting the Aladdin brand of lamps. Aladdin was and is still the most successful brand of non-pressurized kerosene mantle lamp. They did not achieve this success because they had the best lamp design but because they had a good product and leading edge marketing. It was a combination of ongoing innovation in both their products and marketing that allowed them to dominate the mantle lamp market.

Much of the information in this web site is based upon the research and contributions of others as well as those of my own.  I intend this site to to be an illustrated supplement reference that fills in some gaps not well covered in other published works.  It is not intended to parrot previously published works nor to replace them. In appreciation.

If you have an interest in Aladdin kerosene lamps THE essential book to own is "Aladdin The Magic Name in Lamps" by J. W. Courter, ISBN 0-9618879-2-3. This is a MUST HAVE book on Aladdin lamps that is well researched and well written.  Bill's book is primarily focused on Aladdin lamps marketed within the United States and Canada.  A copy of this book can be purchased through the Aladdin Knight's web site.

J. W. Courter also wrote the definitive guide to center draft kerosene lamp identification which includes a value guide. Center draft kerosene lamps were very popular in the United states and many were very ornate. Dozens of companies manufactured a wide verity of these lamps, some of whom also manufactured kerosene mantle lamps. If you have an interest in these lamps, Bill's book is a must have. It also contains hard to find information about the various companies who manufactured these lamps "center-draft Kerosene Lamps 1884-1940 identification and value guide"  by J. W. Courter, ISBN: 978-1-57432-566-9, profusely illustrated, 448 pages. Copies can be purchased from the author.

If your interests leads you to Aladdin lamps sold in Australia the essential reference book is Allin Hodson's "Aladdin Kerosene Lamps in Australia" , ISBN 0646377558. Printed by Hyde Park Press in Australia. Lamps produced by Aladdin Australia are unique in their design and shows the practical Australian approaches to meeting the needs of the people who used the lamps. Sadly this great book is out of print so may be hard to find a used copy.

"Aladdin to Ziu: The Early Kerosene Mantle Lamp in America" by Thomas W. Small and James R. Christner, ISBN 978-0-692-90920-1, does an excellent job of documenting pre-1930 non-pressurized kerosene mantle lamps both made and imported into America. What makes this book unique and important is that it tells the stories of the people and companies behind the lamps and adds a perspective you will not find elsewhere. While Bill Courter's book does an excellent job of telling the story of Aladdin, this book puts that story into perspective with the rest of the early American mantle lamp industry. It is a well researched chronicle that pulls together hard to find information. If your interests go beyond just collecting lamps and you want to have a deeper understanding of the early American mantle lamp industry, you want to purchase a copy of this book.

If your collecting interests leads you to the early evolution of kerosene mantle burners, the place to look is Germany where mantle lamps were invented and the book to purchase is called "The Evolution of the Kerosene Mantle Burner" by Anton Kaim. This is a self published book sold directly by the author and does a very good job of covering the inception and comparative evolution of the mantle burner, most of which took place in Europe. This book an excellent reference for burner and parts identification. This book covers the Burners developed in Europe, German burners imported to North America and Aladdin brand burners.

Like every good collectible, there is a club for Aladdin lamp enthusiasts called the "Aladdin Knights". They have a newsletter that can contain research results not published in Courter's book. They also have gatherings which provides opportunities to actually see rare models.

Aladdin model B lamp
Model B No. B-121

 


Aladdin Started in business in 1908 selling the German made Practicus burner on a Plume & Atwood manufactured lamp base. In 1909 they started selling their own brand metal lamps starting with the Aladdin model 1 lamp.

Metal Aladdin Lamp models:

Manufactured from 1909 through the present day (Dates for American lamps are for North American price list)

Aladdin oil pots (Model 1 through B and 23)

Model 1 (May 1909 to August 1910)

Model 2 (September 1910 to December 1910)

Model 3 (January 1911 to August 1912)

Model 4 (September 1912 to August 1913)

Model 5 (September 1913 to August 1914)

Model 6 (September 1914 to July 1917, In Canada to August 1920)

Model 7 (August 1917 to July 1919, Not sold in Canada)

Model 8 (August 1919 to 1920, Not sold in Canada)

Model 9 (August 1920 to August 1922)

Model 10 (May 1921 to August 1922)

Model 11 (September 1922 to May 1928)

Model 12 (May 1928 to April 1935 in the US, Sold in Australia through 1945 or 46 and the UK into 1939 or 1940)

            Vase Lamps
            Floor lamps
            Table lamps

Model B (1933 to 1955)

            Floor lamps/oil pots
           " Oriental" (1935 to 1936)
            "Treasure" (1937 to 1953)
            "Nashville Treasure" (1949)
            Metal font lamps (1935 through 1954)
            Railroad caboose lamps (1937 through 1980s, B, C, 21C, 23 lamps)

Model C US made ( 1955 to 1963)  Initial draft page

          Alacite pedestal shelf lamp (1955, 1956)

Model 21C (May 1963 to December 1969) - The model 21C was manufactured by Aladdin UK and sold in North America

Model 23 (December 1969 - 2015)

          Sconce lamp  (1979 to 1982)
         L.L. Bean aluminum shelf lamp (1987 to 1989)
           "Mariner" shelf lamp (1981 to 1994)
           "Regency" shelf lamp (1980 to 1994)
           Deluxe table lamp (1999 through 2015)
           Deluxe font lamp (1999 through 2015)
          100th anniversary parlor lamp  (2008)

Aladdin model 6 hanging lamp
Model 6 No. 125A

 

Aladdin model 4 narrow frame hanging lamp
Aladdin model 4 narrow frame hanging lamp
Art glass shade was not made by Aladdin

 

Aladdin glass models:

Aladdin started manufacturing glass lamps concurrently with metal lamps starting in 1932. The first year glass lamps (Venetian, and early Colonial lamps) used a Model A burner. Glass lamps produced through 1954 used the model B burner. There was a glass lamp made in Brazil that used a model C burner. Glass lamps produced between 1974 to the present date use variations of the model 23 burner. Glass lamps manufactured after 2016 use the MaxBrite burners.

IMPORTANT: Bill Courter's book on Aladdin lamps ( "Aladdin The Magic Name in Lamps" by J. W. Courter, ISBN 0-9618879-2-3) does an excellent job of covering the Aladdin model A and model B glass lamps. I have no intention of trying to duplicate his fine work. My intention is to supplement his work by adding newer glass lamps and limited edition glass lamps. The model A and model B glass lamps described in this site are of lamps I own or have owned. As such the descriptions may not cover all the variations of these models. If you need more information about different model A or B glass lamps I strongly suggest that you purchase a copy of Bill's excellent book.

Model A (1932)

Model B:

           "Colonial" (1933)
           "Cathedral"   (1934)
            "Corinthian" (1935 to 1936)
            "Majestic" (1935 to 1936)
           Model B glass font lamps  (1935 to 1953)
           "Diamond Quilt" (1937 )
            "Vertique" (1938)
           "Beehive"  (1937, 1938) 
           "Washington Drape" round base (1939)
            "Tall Lincoln Drape" (1940 to 1949)
            "Simplicity"  (1948 through 1953)
           "Washington Drape" bell stem  (1941)
           "Washington drape" plain stem (191 to 1955)

Model C Lamps

           Model C Brazil (burner page)
            Diamond quilt Brazilian lamps (1974 to 1975)

Model C and 23 lamps

           Pedestal shelf lamps (1955- 1956 and 2011 -   )

Model 23:

"Short Lincoln drape" ( 1974 through present)
Lincoln drape shelf lamps (1975 through 1993)
70th anniversary table lamp  (1978)
75th anniversary shelf lamp (1983) 
American Classic (1980 through 1990)
 Log Cabin stoneware shelf lamp ( LL Bean1984 and 1985)
Green short vase lamp ( LL Bean, 1990)
Genie II  shelf lamp (1990 to 2015, Plus 2020 limited cobalt blue release)
 Genie III (1999 through 2017) + American Lamp Supply versions
 Alexandria glass table lamp   (2012 -  )

MaxBrite:

    MAXbrite model 500 Burner (2015 - present)

Grand Vertique Table Lamp (2017)  Aladdin Signature Series lamp
Grand Vertique shelf lamp (2021 only)
Genie III (2018 - present as color specific limited releases)

Aladdin glass lamp
Model B N0. B-101

Aladdin was an international company with offices in several countries.

This is a new section. I will populate it with additional lamps as I find time

Burner manufacture was done in The United States, United Kingdom, and Brazil. The founts for the lamp were made in the country or sales area that the lamps were sold into minimize export costs. Starting in 1974 all manufacturing was moved to China.

Aladdin Australia

NOTE:  Aladdin lamps were introduced in Australia in 1923 with model 11 imported lamps marked Sydney on the wick adjuster knobs. Starting around 1926, more parts of the lamps started being made in Australia. By the early 1930s the lamp bodies & accessories were being made in Australia and only the burners were imported. In Australia, both the UK model 14 burner and the US Model B burner were used.   In Australia the UK model 14 was referred to as the Model 16A burner and the US model B burner was referred to as the model 16B. Model 12 lamps were sold through WWII. Their use of a lamp tank that could be moved to any of several different lamp bases and hangers depending upon need is unique and produced a large number of possible lamp combinations. Aladdin Australia also sold lamps in New Zealand.

Introduction to Aladdin Australia and their unique famlies of lamps

1653 plastic table lamp   (1953 to 1956)


3 Aladdin Australia Bakelite lamps
Aladdin Australia Bakelite lamps
Banquet - Personal - shelf

Aladdin Austria

NOTE: The short lived Austrian Aladdin office was started just as Hitler was coming to power and ceased when Germany annexed Austria. They manufactured their own lamp bodies and used Aladdin UK made burners.

            Model 14 made in Austria

Aladdin Argentina

            Aladdin lamps from Argentina (1928 or 29 through 1945)

Austrian Aladdin lamp
Aladdin Austria table lamp

 

Aladdin Brazil

           Model C Brazil (burner page)

          Model C Brazil brass table lamp

          Model C Brazil quilt pattern lamps

Aladdin Brazil table lamp
Aladdin Brazil glass lamp

Aladdin Paris

            French Model 12 shelf lamp based upon the # 12 oil pot

Aladdin Paris shelf lamp
Aladdin Paris shelf lamp

Aladdin South Africa

           South African sales region model 23 aluminum table lamp (1976 to 1977?)

Aladdin South Africa lamp
Aladdin South Africa model 23 lamp

Aladdin UK

NOTE: Aladdin industries UK fas formally constituted in 1919. Initially Aladdin UK sold American made lamps with "England" added to the wick adjustment knob (Models 8, 9, 10, 11 and very early 12). Changes in import duty fees caused Aladdin to open a manufacturing site in England.  Starting in 1933 both burners and lamp bodies were made in England. Aladdin UK also made burners for Aladdin Paris, Austria, and Australia. The burners for the model 21C lamps were made in England and exported to North America. The model 23 burners marked made in England work well and are by far the best of the model 23 burners. If were not for the burners being produced in the UK Aladdin USA would have likely gone out of business in the mid 1950s when a flood destroyed all the tooling or soon thereafter.  Aladdin UK stopped manufacturing lamps during the back half of the 1970s and stopped manufacturing mantles during the first half of the 1980s when production was transfered to Brazil.

           Model B UK (1931)

         Model 14 Cottage lamp from the UK (First half of the 1930s, sold in UK only)

           English model 23 aluminum lamps (1969 to 1977)

Aladdin lamp
Aladdin UK model 14 cottage lamp
unknown Cat. number.
There are 2 versions of this lamp

Aladdin model 14 bakelite lamps from the UK
Model 14 Bakelite lamps from the UK

   

IMPORTANT NOTE: Throughout this web site I make conjectures based upon my empirical observations and literature research. Please consider these conjectures to be working hypotheses and not fact. Only the people who were there and made or carried out the decisions can know the facts for sure. For the rest of us it is just guesses based upon what we can observe.

 

If you would like to discuss any of the contents please feel free to

© 2002, 2015 by TeriAnn Wakeman. All rights reserved.
This web site is not affiliated with Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company. Aladdin, and Lox-on are registered trademarks of Aladdin Industries LLC