TeriAnn's Guide to Aladdin Mantle Lamps

 

Contents  >  Model B lamps

 
 
 

INCOMPLETE DRAFT PAGE

Aladdin Model B Sold From 1933 through 1955

Aladdin model B oil pot
Cat.# 1221, first metal model B metal lamp. Also the only true model B oil pot

PICTURE OF colonial

Cat. # 106, first model B table lamp

Picture of B-53

Cat.# B-53 that last version of model B lamp to be offered for sale

The Aladdin model B returned to the bottom mounted wick raiser to make installing new wicks easier. Like the model A, the model B burner is a side draft burner.

The model B burner was used on a large variety of lamps between 1933 and 1955.

Model B burners, like its predecessors were manufactured by Plume & Atwood in their plant in Connecticut. They were marked Chicago because that is where the Aladdin headquarters was located. When the headquarters was moved to Nashville in 1949 the label on the wick adjuster knob was changed to read Nashville.

World war II saw the rationing of brass. Except for caboose lamps, no metal lamps were made during 1943, 1944 and 1945. The caboose fonts made during the war were of steel that was galvanized then blackened. During this time Aladdin wick raisers and wick cleaners were steel as well. The burner remained brass because the burner flow characteristics were carefully designed to work with the thermal characteristics of brass.

There was a flood that devastated the Plume & Atwood manufacturing plant at the end of 1954. The flood destroyed or washed away all the Aladdin tooling.

The last of the model B burner inventory was fitted to B-53 clear glass Lincoln drape table lamps and sold in 1955 until the stock was depleted.

The model B burner is very highly respected. Considering the decreasing demand for kerosene lighting, it is quite possible that the model B burner would be in use today had the tooling not been destroyed.

Aladdin model B adjuster
Chicago burner, 1935 - 1948

Picture of Nashville wick adjuster knob

Nashville burner, 1949 - 1955

Variations:

Table - .
Font - metal and glass, each in several versions and finishes.
Oil pot - One version, #1221, 5-1/2 dia. Sold in 1933 & 1934. Finish Satin brass or oxidized bronze.
Floor lamp -
Transition (very early lamps) - model A burners were fitted to early colonial glass table lamps and to early oil pot lamps.

Accessories:

Insect screen: Late canister type with the downward pointing fitting fingers with Chicago burner lamps, current screen top insect screen with Nashville burners.
Wick cleaner: Several styles with both wide and narrow skirts. Both printed and script logo. Curved bottom. Steel 1943 through 1945, otherwise brass.
Shade ring: Gallery mounted three arm shade ring. A 10 inch holder was available for the glass shade and a 14 inch holder for the paper shades.
Shades: Table & font - glass 701, 702. Paper - several versions of 14 inch paper shades.

Documents (Requires Adobe Acrobat reader vers 5 or newer)

 

 

Aladdin model B burner:

Aladdin model B burner appart

The model B burner can be thought of as a retooling of the model A burner to make instillation of a wick easier.

Aladdin model B wick raiser

The wick raiser was a return to the late model 12 wick raiser style only much taller and with the straight rack gear affixed to a new offset location.

 

Aladdim Model B burner base

The model B burner was designed to allow as much space as possible to install a new wick. The section of outer wick tube attached to the burner base was shortened for better access to the wick and the raiser's mounting tabs.
Aladdin Model B outer wick tube

Model B outer wick tube with attached air distributor.

 Aladdin model B air deflector
Aladdin model B wick gearing

The model B wick adjuster gearing has been strengthened.

 

World War II brought about the end to the golden age of Aladdin kerosene lamps.  Up until the United States as attacked Aladdin offered a large variety of lamps and shades in several colours. The war made brass and plating materials restricted materials. Except for steel founts for caboose lamps Aladdin stopped making metal lamps.  Glass lamp styles were reduced to the clear B-53, new formula B-75 table lamps and the 0153 new formula alicite fount lamp.  Aladdin's main efforts went into producing food handling equipment for the military.  After the war, with most of rural America now electrified Aladdin shifted its lighting emphasis towards electric lighting and the kerosene lighting branch of the company slid into a long decline.  As a side note, Aladdin still listed their Paris, France sales office on their documents during the war.

Aladdim material usage during WWII
From 1943 dealer price list.
Brass was also restricted during the Korean war and only glass lamps were available during that time.

 

 

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