The badge on this arc lamp bears the M. & M. Arc Lamp Trademark. M. & M., Martin & Morehead, only appear in the business listings of the Chicago, Illinois, business listings in 1900. Peter Cunnington, whose collection this is in, made a new preheating trough and arm, as well as the smoke bell, chimney supports, and repaired stress cracks in the fount. The lamp still lacks two finials and a sufficiently large mantle. The lamp has a bunsen flame in this image.
The Nagel Chase Mfg. Co., Chicago, advertised this gasoline table lamp in 1911. It featured a pilot light burner (not shown) that was always on so the lamp would start instantly. Note the bayonet mount for the mantles (middle image) and the filler plug and a valve (lower image) under the cover on the top of the fount (top image). This lamp, in Shirley Willard’s collection, came with the broad white enameled reflector, rather than a paneled glass shade as in the advertisement.
The Nagel Chase Mfg. Co. made this Model 2 kerosene lamp in the 1920’s after making it with a riveted fount for several years. The lamp required an alcohol torch for preheating but was kept running by a row of flames along the generator (right image). This 300 cp lamp is in Doug Dwyer’s collection; it was photographed by Darcy Vantiger.
This Model 3 lamp appears in the 1920-21 Nagel-Chase catalog without the rivets around the fount base as in previous years. This is a 300 cp gasoline fueled model with a match-lighting generator that curves several times around the mixing chamber (right image). This lamp, in Scott Martin’s collection, came with a choice of shades (not shown).
This Nagel Chase Wizard Quicklit gasoline lamp most closely resembles bracket lamp No. 32 in their 1922-23 catalog. This 300 cp rated kerosene lamp includes a generator with an elaborate metal attachment to transfer heat from a preheating match (right image). Note the fuel lines which are not contained in the support tubing (left image). The lower image shows the lamp with the original globe. This lamp is in Dwayne Hanson’s collection.
This Nagel-Chase lamp is similar to Model 15 below but doesn’t appear in any catalogs (McRae). This one mantle gasoline model has a tip cleaner to the right and below the valve wheel (right image) and a “saw-tooth” heat transfer strip on the upper generator as on the wall lamp above. Dean Dorholt, whose collection this is in, has outfitted the lamp with a Nagel-Chase shade as on the Model 15 lamp below.
Like the lamp above, this Wizard QuickLit lamp doesn’t appear in any catalogs. The burner (center & right images) is the same as on Model 3 above, circa 1920-21, and includes a built-in pricker to clear the orifice. The lower parts of the lamp are the same as on Model 10 below, circa 1922 (McRae). This lamp is in Toby Garner’s collection.
These Model 10 table lamps were manufactured by Nagel-Chase Mfg. Co., Chicago, Illinois. This 300 cp, match lighting gasoline model was sold with several different shades during the 1920’s. Model 10A (left – in Conny Carlsson’s collection) and 10B (center – in Doug Dwyer’s collection) have the original shades; Model 10 running (right) is in Neil McRae’s collection. Note the vertical tip cleaner directly below the base of the generator. Nagel-Chase used the large “eye” finial, conical shade hanger, and three lobed valve wheel on other models.
Nagel-Chase made this Model 11 or 11A lamp (McRae & Vantiger) which is only marked Montgomery Ward, Chicago. This match lighting model appears in their 1930 catalog. The decorated shade but in a green accent color was also an option in the 1930 catalog. This lamp is in Dwayne Hanson’s collection.
The Model 15 Nagel-Chase lamp was sold by Montgomery Ward & Co. and dubbed the “Superlight” in the 1926-27 and the 1927-28 catalogs. The unfired lamp (left & center) is in Craig Seabrook’s collection, while the lamp on the right is in Fil Graff’s collection. The copper flange on the generator was supposed to help in preheating. The shade on the right is marked Rock Brand and varies in design from the shade in the center image which is figured on this lamp in the literature.
Nagel-Chase made this Model 18 wall lamp that appears in a 1925-26 brochure from that company (McRae). The 300 cp gasoline lamp lacks feet which are usually present on wall lamps so that it can sit on an horizontal surface, but instead has a second wall attachment at the bottom of the fount. This lamp is in Neil McRae’s collection.
Nagle-Chase Mfg. Co. also made these hanging lamps – Model 150 Dreadnaught Individual gasoline lamp (left & center) and Model 38 Wizard Individual kerosene lamp (right). which are in Neil McRae’s collection. The first lamp is 300 cp while the second is 300-400 cp. The shade on the Model 38 is not original. Both lamps have pressure gauges.
Nagel-Chase also made this No 192 inverted outside arc lamp. It is listed in catalogs of that company from 1920-1930 and sold in the later years for $24.85. A kerosene model, it was rated by the manufacturer at 600cp. This lamp with the original globe is in Rolf Hübener’s collection.
This unknown model arc lamp is marked “Manufactured by National Stamping & Electric Works,” a company that was located in Chicago, Illinois. It is also marked “Nulite Lighting System.” This lamp, with a period petticoat shade and chimney, is in Dick Sellers’ collection.
This outdoor arc lamp is marked Nulite Chicago Solar Light Company. The consolidation of National Stamping & Elec. Works and Chicago Solar Light Company occurred in 1909-10 which helps to date this lamp in Dick Sellers’ collection.
Based on the burner assembly parts this unidentified torch lighting lamp was made by National Stamping & Elec. Works (McRae). The shade holder is an earlier style, circa 1912-16 and the burner cap openings are slits cut across the bottoms. The fount is unique to this model. This lamp is in Dave Harris’ collection.
This Nulite table lamp by National Stamping & Electric Works is similar to Model 110 that appears in their catalog No. 76 which we can date to 1916-18. It is a torch lighting model with a pivoting door to access the generator tip for cleaning with a pricker; Model 110 had an automatic tip cleaner. This lamp is in Neil McRae’s collection.
This is Nulite Model 210 with the automatic (built-in) tip cleaner, that is also featured in Nulite Catalog 76. The “L-shaped” tip cleaner lever is visible behind and to the right of the right burner tube. The lever controls an eccentric block located in the fuel line that raises and lowers the tip cleaner when it is rotated. This lamp is in Alex Brasch’s collection.
Two versions of the Model 10 Air-O-Lamp made by National Stamping and Electric Works, Chicago. The Sunshine Safety Lamp Company in Kansas City, MO, badged the lamp on the left and center (running). This lamp features the original artichoke shade The lamp on the right is marked as made by the manufacturer, Access to the filler plug and valve wheel on this model is artfully concealed under the sliding bell-shaped cover above the fount. These two lamps are in Neil McRae’s collection.
This one mantle wall or bracket lamp is marked Nulite/Chicago but the tank is in the style of those made by the Best Light Co., Canton, OH, suggesting collaboration between the two companies (McRae). There is a tip cleaner at the top of the generator that is not obvious in this image. The air tube on this lamp, which is in Bruce Strauss’s collection, is missing.
Neil McRae believes this lamp is an early version of Nulite Model 110M; a later version figured in a catalog has the air tube supporting the burner. The M designation in the model number means that it is match lighting, according to Neil, unlike the torch lighting model above. This lamp is in Wade Golden’s collection.
National Stamping & Electric Works, Chicago, made this Nulite 202M chandelier lamp. This lamp has a 2 qt. fount and produces 800 cp from the two, double mantle burners. The Nulite 199 white embossed shades (upper images) are original to this lamp. This lamp is in Dwayne Hanson’s collection.
The Nulite M203 ceiling lamp was a match lighting model that boasted 400 cp from two mantles. The top of the fount has a filler cap and air screw for pressurizing the gas. These lamps are in Dwayne Hanson’s collection. The 199 shade (right) is correct for this lamp.
National Stamping & Electric Works first made a torch lighting, small fount gasoline bracket or wall lamp (above), presumably before they made a match lighting version (below). Note the tip cleaner just above the generator. This lamp appears in their Nulite 76 catalog, circa 1919. The lamp was shown in the catalog with a plain 299 shade. This lamp is in Alex Brasch’s collection.
The Nulite brand included this 207M bracket lamp circa 1920. This lamp, in Dwayne Hanson’s collection, is outfitted with the correct 199 shade. The fount has a 1 quart capacity. With the shade, pump, mantles, and other accessories, the lamp retailed for $13.80.
The Nulite brand included two instant lighting lamp models. This first one appears in Montgomery Ward catalogs from 1932-34 as their number 450 E 5401, a year after the National Stamping instant lighting patent was granted. The fount and handle are finished in antique crackled bronze. The fount is unusual among Nulite appliances in have brass sides. The instant light valve wheel (lower image) is threaded so it turns out/clockwise to close the fuel flow. This lamp is in Dwayne Hanson’s collection.
This second instant lighting lamp, Model 310, also in Dwayne Hanson’s collection, appears in a Nulite advertisement with their No. 8 instant lighting lantern. This two mantle lamp is running in the above image with the same shade as shown in the advertisement. The lamp runs on gasoline and requires a separate pump unlike the instant lighting lamp model above.
Two Nulite kerosene table lamps for Sears – Model 07705 (left) in John Anderson’s collection, and Model 07737 (right), in Doug Dwyer’s collection. The lamps differ in the detail on the handles. The finish is gone from the steel fount of the lamp on the right. Model 07705 appears in Sears catalogs from the fall, 1936 through the spring, 1941 while 07737 follows from the fall, 1941 through the fall, 1942 (McRae).
The New Specialty Mfg. Co., Council Bluffs, Iowa (bottom image), made this unique “Semi Pressure Single” hanging lamp in the style of a gasoline gravity lamp in the early 1900s. The serrated hanging hook (top left image) allows the user to level the lamp as the fuel is used from the tank. A small diameter brass tube (right image) carries the air from the bottom valve to the tank above. The valve at the lower right can be opened once an air pump is attached and the tank is then pressurized from this lower valve (upper right image). The glass cylinder and mantle holder are replacements.
The New Specialty Co also made this “Semi Pressure Stand” lamp that has a base so it can be placed on a table or flat surface. On this model the valve to control pressurizing the tank is at the bottom of the tank (middle image) so fuel under pressure flows to the burner through the fitting on the top. A badge identifying this model is on the base (lower image). This lamp is in Conny Carlsson’s collection. The globe is a replacement.
© 2000-2023 Terry Marsh
The Terrence Marsh Lantern Gallery 