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Learning Tools And Research Material

User Forums
Post pictures of your items and ask questions or just learn from reading the posts from others

Ad Database
View or upload ads from antique magazines
Bulb & Socket Bases
View images of the most well known bulb and socket bases

Patent Utilities
Patent Linker
Lets You Pull Up Any Patent PDF File Or Link One Directly To Your Web Page
Group Patent Dbase
Lets You Download The First Page Patent Picture Of Every Patent On A Single Day To View On Quickly Your Local Computer
MultiView Search
Lets You Search For Patents Using Advanced Methods And Provides Hyper Links To The Patent Office And Google Patents

I have not had much time to get many items in the forsale area below. Please keep checking back as I will start adding more items soon.

Items For Sale

Cord Balls & Adjusters
NEW - My cord pendant adjuster project, as well as a good history about them.

Switch Material
Electrical Code
Mica Insulation
CP or WATTS Marks
Socket Bead/Rib/UNO
Catalogs & Ads
Patents
Pull Chains / Finials
Socket & Electrical Manufacturer's Items And Their History
GECO Sockets
NEW - This section will allow you to date and learn how to tell one GECO socket from the other.
Hubbell
This is where this site started from. Since this page was done, there has been much more Hubbell history and information found which will make for a complete redesign of this page and section in the soon future.
Hubbell Patents
This section has some early patent research on Hubbell. It is mostly complete with only a few missing patents which will be added in when this section is re done into the new format
Wheeler Reflector Co.
NEW - A history of The Wheeler Reflector Company and tips on how to tell if mirror has been replaced on a shade
Other Manufacturers
This section is a lot of incomplete work and will be updated shortly. For now it serves to give you some extended information on some companies, but will be a much better tool when it is complete
NEC
This section is everything you ever wanted to know about the National Electrical Code (NEC) but had no one to ask. Downloads of old NEC's, meetings and much extended information is provided.
GECO Sockets

More companies will be added to this list in the near future. We will also be adding a new list of post 1900 sockets and items.
Bergmann & Co.
Brush Electric Co.
Bryant Electric Co.
Crown Elect MFG Co.
EE&S
Holmes & Gale (HG)
Perkins
Thomson-Houston
Westinghouse
Tutorial And Early Lighting History


The Lighting Time Table

To read the entire tutorial, you can just click on the first link and then continue to the next section at the bottom of each page. Or, you can select links below of interest to you.

PRE 1900 SECTION

Overcoming Obstacles
About Early Electric Lighting, Generators, Arc Lamps, The First Edison Socket, Menlo Park, etc.
The First Fixtures
About The Start Of The First Incandescent Lighting Fixtures
Light Reflection
About Early Light Bulbs And Candle Power vs. WATTS
Edison-Bergmann
About Sigmund Bergmann And The Start Of Bergmann And Company Lighting Fixtures
Lighting Break Down
A Quick Break Down Of Different Lighting Time Periods
Styles 1881 to 1884
Bergmann Fixtures And Styles
Other Pre-1888 Styles
About Early Companies That Sold Lighting Systems And The Fixtures That They Sold With Their Lighting Systems
The U.S. Elect. Co.
The United States Electric Company History And Early Items
The Brush Elect. Co.
The Brush Electric Company History And Early Items
Thomson-Houston
The Thomson-Houston Electric Company History And Early Items
Westinghouse
About The Westinghouse Manufacturing Company History And Early Mergers
Mid 1880's Styles
About The Start Of Electrical Supply Houses and how new lighting styles came about
Pre 1900 Sockets
About Early Light Sockets And How To Tell The Difference
1887 New Items
1888 New Items
1890 New Items
1891 New Items
1892 New Items
1893 New Items
1894-1896 Items
1897 New Items
1898 New Items
1899 New Items
Above are catalog items sold in different years. There is no space to duplicate items, so only new and unique items from each year are shown. You would need to view the catalogs for yourself to be complete as I am only highlighting items. You can view catalogs here.

EXTRA INFO
Victor Shade Holder
About The Victor Shade Holder, Atwood And The Standard Holder

I.P. Frink 1899 Items
About Frink & Wheeler
New Wheeler Inverted
Three Links About Mirror Reflector Manufacturers And Their Items And History.
Wheeler Reflector Co.
NEW - A history of The Wheeler Reflector Company and tips on how to tell if mirror has been replaced on a shade

Early Desk Lamps
Some Help In Telling Them Apart

Vitrite And Luminoid
About The Vitrite Holders And Early Vitrite History

Brush-Swan Holder
About Brush-Swan Shade Holders

Cord Balls
My cord pendant adjuster project, as well as a good history about them.

POST 1900 SECTION
About 1900 Styles
This section covers a basic into into the 1900 section covering information about the 1899 transition, electrical code changes, lighting influence, sharing and licensing of patents and then into the new section of electrical specialty manufacturers,

Electrical Specialty Manufacturers
Harvey Hubbell
This section covers some early history periods of pre Hubbell-Grier, Hubbell-Grier, Harvey Hubbell, Hubbell Company. It also covers a number of items that helped change lighting styles,

Benjamin
This section covers some early history periods for the Benjamin Electric MFG. Co, as well as a small section on Dale and The Federal Electric Company
Dale
Federal Electric

This post 1900 section continues to be under current construction

Please Check Back.



WHO'S WHO?
Patent History Of Socket And Switch Manufacturers, Inventors And Their Inventions

Currently Viewing Page B-4


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Henry C. Baer Charles Bakeley / Charles Akers Charles Hammond Balsley
Frederic Barr William A. Richardson Charles A. Beal
Frank M. Bell Benjamin Electric Manufacturing Co. Sigmund Bergmann
(Bergmann & Co.)
Bernstein Electric Light Manufacturing Company Best Electric Company William L. Bliss
Ralph W. Borchert Fred B. Bowers / Edia R. Ramsey David E. Bown
Edwin Morse Bradford Thomas H. Brady Bridgeport Brass Company
Bristol Brass & Clock Company Brooklyn Electric Construction Company The Bryant Electric Company
(Waldo C. Bryant)
Samuel Buchsbaum Charles G. Burton  


Patent(s) Assigned To:


Bryant Electric Company, of Bridgeport Connecticut
Waldo C. Bryant, of Bridgeport Connecticut
Inventor Names Of Patent Ref. No. First Patent Applied For
Waldo C. Bryant Bridgeport Connecticut 391943 06/23/1888
Clarence D. Platt Bridgeport Connecticut 716578 08/20/1901
Guy H. Proctor Somerville Massachusetts 790152 05/10/1904
George B. Thomas Bridgeport Connecticut 798932 03/06/1905
Gilbert W. Goodridge Bridgeport Connecticut 804114 11/21/1904
William W. Jones Bridgeport Connecticut 837073 05/12/1906
Frank E. Seeley Bridgeport Connecticut 839655 07/05/1906
Johann Godfrey Peterson Bridgeport Connecticut 844829 07/05/1906
Frank W. Slady Bridgeport Connecticut 958554 04/24/1909
Frederick P. Pool Bridgeport Connecticut 965743 04/15/1909
Arthur W. Clauder Bridgeport Connecticut 998467 01/15/1911
Walter Van Patten Steiger Bridgeport Connecticut 1020231 12/03/1908
Frederic Landon Temple Cerar Grove New Jersey 1044291 08/28/1911
Carl Eric Anderson Bridgeport Connecticut 1072898 04/21/1913
William J. Gagnon Bridgeport Connecticut 1079233 07/21/1909
Charles Wagner Brooklyn New York 1156727 07/09/1913


The Bryant Electric Company was founded by Waldo C. Bryant in 1888 in Bridgeport, CT. His first invention was "the first push-pull switch". A patent was granted on October 30, 1888 (Patent # 391943) and began what is known today as, "The Wiring Device Industry".

Waldo Bryant first started working at the Thompson-Houston Electric Company where he was said to be an "expert" in the field. He later took a job as an assistant to George Cutter at the Bridgeport City Electric Plant until 1885. After also working for the Waterbury Electric Light Company, he returned to Bridgeport where he opened his own business installing his automatic doorbell switch inventions. (these were door mats with electric switches installed under the mat, that would ring the bell when someone stepped on the mat switch).
Waldo C. Bryant 1920
When Bryant invented his new improved cut-off switch in 1889, he met with instant success. He formed his company the same year. He started production with seven employees as he pressed forward making what he termed "superior wiring devices".

The company grew as it developed hundreds of electrical inventions for new rising industrial and household needs. Bryant took over the Westinghouse Electric Corporation's socket production in 1890.

By April 10, 1901, Bryant was bought out by the Westinghouse Electric Corporation and became a distributor location for other Westinghouse appliances. It is said that Within only five years, Bryant became the largest manufacturer of wiring devices in the entire world.

Bryant continued working for the company until his death on July 5th 1930.

Bryant was purchased by the Hubbell Corporation in March 1991 and is now a division of Hubbell Incorporated. With Bryant's start being in the 1880's, it makes it one of the oldest socket manufacturing Companies that is still in business today. To this day, Bryant continues to manufacture and distribute a wide variety of quality electrical devices. You can visit their web site at: http://www.hubbell-bryant.com/


ELECTRIC SWITCH OR CUT-OUT



Pat. No. 391943

Inventor:
Waldo C. Bryant

Applied: 05/23/1888
Approved: 10/30/1888

Patent Class:
200/447

Witnesses:
Nathaniel R. Bronson
Geo. E. Terry


SWITCH FOR INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKETS

Pat. No. 435578

Inventor:
Waldo C. Bryant

Applied: 07/14/1890
Approved: 09/02/1890

Patent Class:
200/569

Witnesses:
A. M. Wooster
G. E. Munson


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 457072

Inventor:
Waldo C. Bryant

Applied: 03/09/1891
Approved: 08/04/1891

Patent Class:
200/51R

Witnesses:
A. M. Wooster
Laura M. Sanford




SOCKET FOR INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 502655

Inventor:
Waldo C. Bryant

Applied: 05/06/1893
Approved: 08/01/1893

Patent Class:
439/666

Witnesses:
Edith J. Griswold
Hubert Howson


SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS


Pat. No. 509297

Inventor:
Waldo C. Bryant

Applied: 03/22/1893
Approved: 11/21/1893

Patent Class:
439/340

Witnesses:
Henry D. Williams
Hubert Howson




WEATHERPROOF SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 626588

Inventor:
Waldo C. Bryant

Applied: 01/03/1899
Approved: 06/06/1899

Patent Class:
439/666

Witnesses:
F. Warren Wright
Hubert Howson




ELECTRIC-LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 716578

Inventor:
Clarence D. Platt

Applied: 08/20/1901
Approved: 12/23/1902

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
C. A. Stokes
L. F. Beard


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 790152

Inventor:
Guy H. Proctor

Applied: 05/10/1904
Approved: 05/16/1905

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
Charles S. Gooding
Annie J. Dailey


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 798932

Inventor:
George B. Thomas

Applied: 05/06/1905
Approved: 09/05/1905

Patent Class:
439/667

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
M. A. Barry


ELECTRICAL ROSETTE



Pat. No. 804114

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 11/21/1904
Approved: 11/07/1905

Patent Class:
337/200

Witnesses:
Edith Fairchild
H. G. Wales

CONSTRUCTION OF INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKETS

Pat. No. 837054

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 04/09/1906
Approved: 11/27/1906

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
H. W. Goldsborough
F. E. Seeley


CONSTRUCTION OF INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKETS

Pat. No. 837055


Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge


Applied: 04/09/1906
Approved: 11/27/1906

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
H. W. Goldsborough
F. E. Seeley


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 837073



Inventor:
William W. Jones


Applied: 05/12/1906
Approved: 09/27/1906

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
F. E. Seeley


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 839655



Re-issue PG1 PG2 PG3

Inventor:
Frank E. Seeley


Applied: 07/06/1906
Approved: 12/25/1906

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
H. W. Goldsborough
J. H. Wheeler


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 843310

Inventor:
George B. Thomas & Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 07/05/1906
Approved: 02/05/1907

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
F. E. Seeley
H. W. Goldsborough


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 844829

Inventor:
Johann Godfrey Peterson

Applied: 07/05/1906
Approved: 02/19/1907

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
H. W. Goldsborough
George B. Thomas


INCANDESCENT LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 872283

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 07/20/1907
Approved: 11/26/1907

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
F. E. Seeley
A. H. Jones


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET



Pat. No. 879819

ReissuePG1 PG2 PG3

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 10/26/1907
Approved: 02/18/1908

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
Madge E. Keir
Hubert Howson


INCANDESCENT ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 907782

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 07/31/1907
Approved: 12/29/1908

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. W. Goldsborough


WEATHERPROOF SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS

Pat. No. 933644

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 06/01/1908
Approved: 11/07/1909

Patent Class:
439/666

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. W. Goldsborough


PULL SOCKET



Pat. No. 934236

Inventor:
George B. Thomas

Applied: 05/15/1909
Approved: 11/14/1909

Patent Class:
200/423

Witnesses:
F. E. Seeley
A. H. Jones


ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE


Pat. No. 940526

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 05/06/1909
Approved: 11/16/1909

Patent Class:
439/666

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. W. Goldsborough


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET



Pat. No. 957719

Inventor:
Frank E. Seeley

Applied: 10/14/1907
Approved: 05/10/1910

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. W. Goldsborough


PULL SOCKET


Pat. No. 957768

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 12/15/1908
Approved: 05/10/1910

Patent Class:
200/423

Witnesses:
A. J. Waterhouse
H. W. Goldsborough




PULL SOCKET


Pat. No. 958554

Inventor:
Frank W. Slady

Applied: 04/24/1909
Approved: 05/17/1910

Patent Class:
200/423

Witnesses:
Grebut W. Goodridge
H. W. Goldsborough




ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET CAP

Pat. No. 958625

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 10/20/1908
Approved: 05/17/1910

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. W. Goldsborough


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET CAP

Pat. No. 958626

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 10/22/1909
Approved: 05/17/1910

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. W. Goldsborough


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 961605

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 02/10/1910
Approved: 06/14/1910

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
A. J. Waterhouse
H. W. Goldsborough


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET



Pat. No. 965743

Inventor:
Frederick P. Pool

Applied: 04/15/1909
Approved: 07/26/1910

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
F. E. Seeley
A. H. Jones


KEY SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC INCANDESCENT LAMPS

Pat. No. 969617

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 10/02/1908
Approved: 09/06/1910

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
F. E. Seeley
H. W. Goldsborough


PULL SOCKET FOR ELECTRIC LAMPS


Pat. No. 979475

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 07/30/1908
Approved: 12/27/1910

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
Walter Abbe
Hubert Howson


PULL SWITCH

Pat. No. 984902

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 12/14/1910
Approved: 02/21/1911

Patent Class:
200/543

Witnesses:
L. B. Wheeler
H. M. Wichert


ELECTRIC SWITCH

Pat. No. 998467

Inventor:
Arthur W. Clauder

Applied: 02/15/1911
Approved: 07/18/1911

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
F. E. Seeley
H. M. Wichert




ELECTRIC SWITCH

Pat. No. 1006296

Inventor:
Frank E. Seeley

Applied: 05/19/1911
Approved: 10/17/1911

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
A. H. Jones
H. M. Wichert




ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH

Pat. No. 1020231

Inventor:
Walter Van Patten Steiger

Applied: 12/03/1908
Approved: 03/12/1912

Patent Class:
200/424

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
H. W. Goldsborough


ELECTRIC LIGHTING



Pat. No. 1044291

Inventor:
Frederic Landon Temple

Applied: 08/28/1911
Approved: 11/12/1912

Patent Class:
200/51.05

Witnesses:
William Abbe
L. H. Grote


ELECTRIC LAMP KEY SOCKET


Pat. No. 1055137

Inventor:
Arthur W. Clauder

Applied: 04/19/1912
Approved: 03/04/1913

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
George B. Thomas


ELECTRIC SWITCH



Pat. No. 1072898

Inventor:
Carl Eric Anderson

Applied: 04/21/1913
Approved: 09/09/1913

Patent Class:
200/463

Witnesses:
George B. Thomas
G. W. Goodridge


ELECTRICAL SWITCH



Pat. No. 1079233

Inventor:
William J. Gagnon

Applied: 07/21/1909
Approved: 11/18/1913

Patent Class:
200/527

Witnesses:
N/A Last page missing
at patent office


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 1082404

Inventor:
Arthur W. Clauder

Applied: 05/06/1912
Approved: 12/23/1913

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
H. M. Wichert


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1121348

ReissuePG1 PG2 PG3

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 12/12/1912
Approved: 12/15/1914

Patent Class:
439/753

Witnesses:
H. W. Wichert
A. H. Jones


ELECTRIC FITTING


Pat. No. 1156727

Inventor:
Charles Wagner

Applied: 07/09/1913
Approved: 10/12/1915

Patent Class:
200/299

Witnesses:
Walter Abbe
L. H. Grote


CHAIN GUIDE FOR PULL SWITCHES

Pat. No. 1160879

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 05/04/1914
Approved: 11/16/1915

Patent Class:
200/331

Witnesses:
H. W. Wichert
A. H. Jones


ELECTRIC SWITCH


Pat. No. 1168977

Inventor:
George B. Thomas


Applied: 03/28/1913
Approved: 01/18/1916

Patent Class:
200/457

Witnesses:
H. W. Wichert
H. H. Jones


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET

Pat. No. 1172980

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge &
George B. Thomas

Applied: 05/08/1915
Approved: 02/22/1916

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
Carl Eric Anderson
H. M. Wichert




ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 1177319

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge &
George B. Thomas

Applied: 01/26/1915
Approved: 03/28/1916

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
H. M. Wichert
H. M. Badeau


ELECTRIC SWITCH


Pat. No. 1180208

Inventor:
George B. Thomas & Carl Eric Anderson

Applied: 03/06/1913
Approved: 04/18/1916

Patent Class:
200/51.17

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
H. M. Wichert


ELECTRIC SWITCH INDICATOR

Pat. No. 1190041

Inventor:
George B. Thomas

Applied: 06/04/1913
Approved: 07/04/1916

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
H. M. Wichert


ELECTRIC SWITCH


Pat. No. 1201170

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 04/25/1913
Approved: 10/10/1916

Patent Class:
200/463

Witnesses:
H. M. Wichert
A. H. Jones


ELECTRIC LAMP SOCKET


Pat. No. 1215141

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge

Applied: 09/14/1916
Approved: 02/06/1917

Patent Class:
200/293

Witnesses:
H. M. Wichert
H. U. Badeau


PULL SOCKET


Pat. No. 1246493

Inventor:
George B. Thomas

Applied: 12/18/1915
Approved: 11/13/1917

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
H. M. Wichert
A. H. Jones


PULL SWITCH INDICATOR


Pat. No. 1249065

Inventor:
Gilbert W. Goodridge


Applied: 04/09/1914
Approved: 12/04/1917

Patent Class:
200/308

Witnesses:
H. M. Wichert
H. W. Badeau


CURRENT TAP


Pat. No. 1249856

Inventor:
George B. Thomas


Applied: 01/15/1916
Approved: 12/11/1917

Patent Class:
439/641

Witnesses:
G. W. Goodridge
H. M. Wichert


WEATHERPROOF SOCKET

Pat. No. 1279940

Inventor:
George B. Thomas


Applied: 03/28/1918
Approved: 09/24/1918

Patent Class:
439/605

Witnesses:
N/A
N/A




PULL SOCKET


Pat. No. 1333352

Inventor:
George B. Thomas & Carl Eric Anderson

Applied: 08/25/1914
Approved: 03/09/1920

Patent Class:
200/51.15

Witnesses:
H. M. Wichert
G. W. Goodridge

Patent(s) Assigned To:

Samuel Buchsbaum, of Chicago Illinois
Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
1253141 PULL SOCKET
Patent Class:
200/438		 Inventor:
Samuel Buchsbaum

Assigned To:
Samuel Buchsbaum, of Chicago Illinois

Patent Applied For: 07/28/1916
Patent Approved On: 01/08/1918

Witnesses:
Robert Bobins
F. S. Goldberger
 

Patent(s) Assigned To:

Charles G. Burton, of Peru Indiana
Patent No. / Links Description / Notes
Patent Picture
1049562 LAMP SOCKET AND SWITCH DEVICE
Patent Class:
362/394		 Inventor:
Charles G. Burton

Assigned To:
Charles G. Burton, of Peru Indiana

Patent Applied For: 08/07/1911
Patent Approved On: 01/07/1913

Witnesses:
Creta Fletcher
Kurt A. Neupert
 

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