History:

Gas lighting was introduced to the American theatre in 1816. Although gas had many advantages over oil lamps and candles, it is said that several hundred theatres burned down in Europe and America from the use of gas lighting.
By 1817, the development of gas production, storage and metering was virtually complete. By 1860, gas jets were lighted with electric sparks and most fixtures had glass chimneys.
Early in the 19th century, most cities in the United States and Europe had streets that were gaslight. Gas lighting for streets gave way to mercury lighting and the development of the electric lighting at the turn of the 19th century replaced gas lighting in homes. However, natural gas was still in use in many homes & lighting manufacturers were reluctant to risk all their production on electric lighting. As a result, they manufactured both gas & electric fixtures & combination gas& electric fixture.
Although Edison did not invent the electric filament lamp, he did however turn theory into practicable form and was one of the first to successfully market incandescent lighting. Before him was the first Canadian patent covering an incandescent lamp -submitted by Henry Woodward and Matthew Evans, dated July 24, 1874 - approximately five years before the development of the Edison lamp.

Lighting Types

Overhead lighting is usually what people think of first. For instance, chandeliers, pendants, flush mounts for applications over a table, island, hallway, entryway etc.  From there, specific spaces are targeted for lighting. Wall lights, reading lights and accents lights fit into the category. Wall sconces, table lamps, floor lamps, bridge arm style lights usually are for a certain space and purpose. Specialty lights such as outdoor lights, store lamps, oil lamps and gas & electric fixtures round out our inventory.
The most extensive lighting monitoring study ever indicates that lights in living rooms, kitchens, and outdoors get the most use.  So why not have the best!

Manufacturers

There are many quality, well made, lighting fixtures that are not signed and very desirable based on appearance and application needs.  From time to time, you will find the following signed known manufacturers represented in our inventory. Aladdin, Bradley & Hubbard, Rembrandt, Edward Miller Co., Salem Brothers, Royal Art Glass Co., Pittsburgh Lamp Brass & Glass Co, Jefferson, Rainaud, Rayo, Rochester and others.