Laurel Lamp Company
 | |
| Company type | Manufacturing |
|---|---|
| Industry | Lighting and home furnishings |
| Founded | 1946 |
| Founder | Max Weiss, Harold Weiss, & Murray Weiss |
| Defunct | 1981 |
| Headquarters | Rome & Magazine Streets, Newark, New Jersey 07105, U.S. |
| Website | laurellampfoundation |
The Laurel Lamp Manufacturing Company Inc. (often referred to as the Laurel Lamp Company or Laurel) was an American manufacturer of lamps and home furnishings based in Newark, New Jersey from 1946 to 1981.[1][2][3] The Laurel Lamp Company was founded by Max Weiss and his two sons, Murray and Harold Weiss.
Laurel was known for its original mid-century modern lamp designs and other home furnishings in traditional, contemporary, and post-modern styles.[4] The company’s design work was overseen by co-founder and president Harold Weiss and was supplemented by collaborations with notable designers including Pierre Cardin, Bijan of California and the House of Salviati in Murano, Italy.
History
[edit]1913–1945
[edit]The history of the Laurel Lamp Company begins with Max Weiss, a Polish tinsmith who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. In 1913, Weiss and his uncle, Aaron Habacht, formed a lamp company called, Habacht and Weiss, selling oil lamps, gas ceiling fixtures and coach lanterns. When electricity became more widely available in homes, Habacht and Weiss began shifting production to portable electric lamps and changed the name of the company to the Sunset Lighting Fixture Company. In 1924, the Sunset Lighting Fixture Company merged with The Mutual Lamp Manufacturing Company to create the Mutual-Sunset Lamp Manufacturing Company.[2][5][6] In 1943, Max Weiss had a heart-attack and retired from Mutual Sunset.
1946–1983
[edit]In 1946, Max Weiss came out of retirement and along with his two sons, Murray and Harold Weiss formed the Laurel Lamp Manufacturing Company.[5]
In April 1969, Instrument Systems Corporation, now known as Griffon,[7] acquired Laurel for US $3.6 million. Harold Weiss remained as President of Laurel under the new ownership.[8][9] By 1971, Laurel had expanded to open showrooms in New York, High Point Market North Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.[10][4][2]
In January 1979, Instrument Systems terminated Mr. Weiss’ contract and Henry Jampol was named president of Laurel.[11] In 1981, Howard Wolff was president of the Laurel Lamp Company.[12]
Laurel’s corporate status was revoked in 1981. In 1983, Westwood Lighting Group purchased the remainder of Laurel’s assets before folding the brand into Westwood’s existing product line.[13]
Laurel designs and designers
[edit]Many of Laurel’s designs were original concepts created in-house by co-founder and president Harold Weiss, American sculptor Richard “Dick” Barr and other staff designers.[2][14] Notably in 1971, Laurel collaborated with the Venetian glass manufacturer, The House of Salviati in Murano, to create Venetian glass sculptural lamps.[15] In 1977, the company partnered with French designer Pierre Cardin to produce a lighting collection as part of Cardin's entry into the American furnishing industry.[1][16][17]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Hoffman, Marilyn (October 4, 1978). "Pierre Cardin designs his name in light sculptures". Pacific Daily News. Page 20.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b c d Staff (June 1, 1971). "25th year for Laurel". Home Lighting and Accessories magazine. Page 60-69.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "Laurel Lamp Manufacturing Co. Inc". US Patent Office. August 5, 1952.
- ^ a b Special in the News, Marilyn (19 June 1975). "Urban Life Marks Furniture". The Indianapolis News. Page 21.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ a b Staff (August 1, 1988). "Harold Weiss Associates". Home Lighting and Accessories magazine. Page 120.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ "Mutual-Sunset Lamp Manufacturing Company". collection.cooperhewitt.org.
- ^ "Company Conformed Name: Griffon Corp".
- ^ Staff (17 March 1977). "Laurel introduces five antique, modern lamps". The Los Angeles Times. Page 326.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Staff (16 April 1969). "Instrument Systems buys Laurel Lamp Co". The Los Angeles Times. Page 64.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Mayer, Barbara (24 May 1978). "It's smart to be brassy". Courier Post. Page 11.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Staff (11 January 1979). "Firm's executives in the firing line". Democrat and Chronicle. Page 1.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Staff (October 29, 1981). "Howard Wolff President of Laurel". Hartford Courant. Page B-12.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Briefly (August 2, 1983). "Westwood Lighting buys lamps firm's asset". The Record. Page 11.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Staff (1 January 1961). "Richard Barr piece for Laurel". Arts & Architecture Magazine. Page 34.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Staff (28 October 1971). "Venice Glass on Display". The Los Angeles Times. Page 197.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Hoffman, Marilyn (16 June 1978). "Pierre Cardin is ready to light up your life". The Honolulu Advertiser. Page 64.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Reif, Rita (October 6, 1977). "Cardin's Furniture Debut: Shimmering Chic". The New York Times. Page 76.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: location (link)