Lamp

Object Name:

Lamp

Object ID:

1975.081.02 a

Creator:

Schering & Glatz

Place of Origin:

New York, NY

Date:

1899

Description:

Disinfecting Lamp. Glass and metal, formalin. Spun brass reservoir base with brass bottom plate soldered in place. Reservoir has stepped foot on side, short straight side and turned-over shoulder that leads to a narrow wick-holder section and chimney base. The brass then flares out to the diameter of straight-glass chimney. Series of decorative holes and perforations around base of chimney. Chimney is held in a slightly sprung brass fence which has Fleur de Lis, inverted heart, and diamond perforations in a repeated decorative pattern. Same pattern is repeated at top of chimney. Brass assembly at top to hold chemical elements used in process. A fine screen and a hemispherical cup that is part of top brass assembly. Over that fits another ring with a suspended cup below it that rests on top and fits inside. On top of base reservoir are stamped letters in caps: "FORMALIN LAMP." On other side of base is "SCHERING'S". On side of base is paper label printed in blue: "PATENTED AUGUST 8th, 1899. / SEE CAUTIONARY NOTICE ON BOTTOM". On bottom in circular label: "Patented August 8th, 1899. / Sold upon / the condition that / only Schering's For = / mailn Pastils shall be used / in this lamp. The use of / other formaldehyde in = / fringes and renders / seller and user / liable." On side of glass chimney in a circle is etched "Patented August 8th, 1899. / Sold upon / the condition that / only Schering's Formalin / Pastils shall be used / in this lamp." On wick adjusting knob on end of it is stamped: "PATENT 930, 782 U. S."
Stored inside box .02b: Paperboard retail-sales box for Schering's Formalin lamp. Cream-color, glossy surface outer box which is medium-brown paper covered with glossy -surface sheet. This sheet extends downward unknown distance from top and it wraps around box and extends over bottom about 0.4". Bottom edges are folded over and glued down. A white-colored glossy paper cover is glued down over edges on bottom. to hide seams. Inside outer box is white glossy covered taller sleeve. Sleeve has vertical joint at one corner. White glossy paper that extends down inside box about 0.3" but it does not extend evenly downward. White glossy paper is glued to inside and outside surface. Unknown how far white sleeve extends downward. Sleeve acts to hold missing cover which more than likely fit over sleeve and rested on top edge on cream-colored box. Box's outer surface has blue ink printing on all four sides. Front side is description of what the lamp does. Also has name and price. At top are eight rows of text. "Schering's Formalin Disinfecting and Deordorizing Lamp...A PERFECTED AND MOST CONVENIENT APPARATUS FOR THE GENERATION OF FORMALIN GAS FROM DRY FORMALIN PASTILS......" At lower portion of front: "For Sale by Wholesale and Retail Druggists in the U. S. / SHERING & GLATZ / 58 MAIDEN LANE, NEW YORK. / SOLE AGENTS AND LICENSEES FOR THE UNITED STATES. / RETAIL PRICES: / Formalin Lamp complete, including 2 boxes, / each containing 20 Formalin Pastils, $1.75 / Formalin Pastils (extra) per box of 20 Pastils, --. 30". On right side are directions for use of lamp. Illustration of lamp with various lower-case letters pointing to different portions of lamp. Directions include six paragraphs for using it.: "DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF Schering Formalin Lamp. 2.--For deodorization, Prevention and Treatment of Contagious Diseases, and Preservation of Food in pantries, etc." On back side are approximately six paragraphs of text giving general descriptions about use of lamp and why it is good. On left side are again directions for use of lamp for a different purpose: "DIRECTIONS FOR THE USE OF Schering's Formalin Lamp. 2.--For Disinfection. Again is illustration of lamp with lower-case letters pointing to different areas of lamp followed by long paragraph with directions which are different from directions on other side.

Material:

Metal
Glass
Paper
Brass

Dimensions:

H-7.2 Dia-3.2 inches

Credit Line:

Gift of Camp Pasquaney

People:

Wilson, J. Wall (1831-1900), Wilson, Lavinia (1838-1903), Wilson, Edward S. (1862-1933)