You'll notice that the dates
given for these lamps is much more specific than other dates on this
site. This is because of a wonderful printing practice in place at the
time most of these replacement lamps were produced. Printers often
dated their work, sometimes down to the week, month and year the box
was printed. Here is an example of such a printer's mark:
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BOX PRINTER'S MARK
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Notice the 925 under the maker's logo. In this
case, the mark stands for the ninth month (September) and the 25th year
(1925). A mark reading 17125 would be read as the "seventeenth day (17)
of January (1), 1925 (25)." These printer's marks make it easy for the
collector to know precisely when a box was produced, and knowing the
manufacturing and back-stock habits of retailers in the first part of
the 20th century will tell us that the lamps contained inside were very
likely made within a year after the production of the container. Sadly,
most Christmas outfit boxes do not contain printer's marks, or if they
do, the marks are not often dated. I cannot tell you why this is, but I
would sure like to know! Let's get on to the lamps:
PRINTER'S DATE |
LAMP MANUFACTURER |
LAMP TYPE/NOTES |
PICTURE |
03/1921 |
General Electric/Edison |
C-6 Exhaust Tipped
Miniature Base |
|
03/1923 |
General Electric/Edison |
C-6 Exhaust Tipped
Miniature Base |
|
09/1925 |
National Mazda |
C-6 Smooth Cone miniature
base |
|
10/1926 |
Edison Mazda |
C-6 Smooth Cone miniature
base |
|
1928 |
General Electric
(but sold under the Propp name) |
C-6 Smooth Cone miniature
base |
|
ca 1930 |
Japan |
C-6 Fluted Cone
(Imitation Mazda)
miniature base
From the collection of Chris Cuff |
|
01/1930 |
General Electric |
C-6 Fluted Cone
miniature base
"Snow Tip" |
|
11/1933 |
General Electric |
C-9 Swirled
intermediate base
inside colored |
|
05/1934 |
Westinghouse |
C-6 Swirled Cone
miniature base
Mazda Detector |
|
05/1934 |
Westinghouse |
S-6 Smooth
candelabra base
(NOTE: These lamps were more often used in
retail signs, but this box is plainly marked 'Christmas use'.) |
|
05/01935 |
General Electric |
T-4 Candle
candelabra base |
|
05/1935 |
General Electric |
C-6 Fluted Cone
miniature base |
|
07/1945 |
General Electric |
C-6 Fluted Cone
miniature base
(Box was prepared before the end of the War
in preparation for postwar production. By 1946, GE dropped the MAZDA
name.) |
|
06/1946 |
General Electric |
C-6 Fluted Cone
miniature base
(note: Mazda name no longer used) |
|
06/1947 |
Westinghouse |
C-6 Fluted Cone
miniature base
(note: Mazda name no longer licensed from GE) |
|
05/1947 |
General Electric |
C-7 Smooth Cone
Candelabra base |
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