The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1890-11-15
ELECTRIC FIXTURES.
THEY ARE RAPIDLY DISPLAYING THE
GAS CHANDELIER.

THEY ARE RAPIDLY DlsPLAclNG THE
GAS CHANDELIER.
Hundrsdr of Thousands oc Dollars In
vested in Their Manufacture - The
Grsatest Taste Displayed in Their De-
sign and MaEe--A Growing Industry.
With the progress Of interior electric
lighting and the gradual Disappearance
OF gas illumination in theatres hotels
and private dwellings has come a new
industry. II might almost be called an
art, or at least an ally of an art. for it
has engaged the attention OF architects,
and has called forth some Of the best
efforts Of artistic designers.
This new industry is the manufacture
Of electric light fixtures Only two or
three years ago it was in its infancy.
Today it has reached an Importance al
most as great as electric lighting itself,
and has attracted millions in invest
ment. The gas chandelier is daily re-
ceding to give place to the electrolier,
and II the present rate of progress is
maintained the electrolier may be seen
in the dwellings of persons Of very mod
crate means. 1t may be the climax in
the advance which made the candle and
the oil lamp give way to gas
Until 1898 all the finer class Of electric
light fixtures were imported chiefly
from France. American companies man
ufactured a class of plain goods which
failed 30 satisfy the wealthy. and were
too Costly for others. All this is changed
now. Tho American architecture and
the American artist have taken up the
matter Of interior electric lighting, and
the electric light fittings have become
part and parcel of architecture The fit
tiugs are designed to suit the style of the
architecture and they cover many pc
riods.
ART ~ THE BUSINESS.
Some Of these are the Romanesque
the renaissance QFrench and Italian)
Louis XIV. Louis XIV, Louis XVI, the
Empire, Adams Qlnglish style), Colo
niAl tAmerican) and the Nineteenth cen
tury revival of the renaissance in the
floral period The materials of the fit
tipgs ara chiefly wrought iron, brass and
copper hammered.
Three or four million dollars are IN
vested in the business The American
companies. which used to manufacture
goods inferior to the French article, are
now consolidated, and many Of the best
French designers are employed by them.
II appears just now that the Americans
are little ahead of the French and En-
glish in this new art. But the American
fo
this yet. The Vanderbilts and many
other Of the wealthy Fifth avenue fami-
lies have imported electric light fittings,
and will have no others But it seems
30 be only matter of few years more
when American art and American enter
prise viii have overcome French and
English ascendency.
The fittings made today are as varied
in style and far more artistic than the
gas fixtures. They are considerably
more costly, too. The costliest ever
made was an electrolier, which now
hangs in the drawing room of James
Rotbschild, of London. II cost $6 600
IL is ~ inches in diameter, about 3 feet
high and is made Of gilt bronze and rock
crystal. The design is Of the Louis XVI
period SiKiy-eight electric lights hang
from the bronze leaves, and the mellow
diffusion Of light is "a remarkable as g
beautiful design.
sobE EXPENSIVE ONES.
The cost of nearly all the finer fittings
mOunt high mp into the hundreds. One
Of the prettiess is wrought iron lamp
with y dragon twisting itself around it
and flames in the form Of electric lights
pouring from its mouth. There is one
OF these lamps in the residence of Will
lam G. Whitney, ex-secretary Of the
navy, Another is cupid holding
lamp made Of hammered copper. Ten
of these are in Mr.. Whitney's house.
One Of the prettiest of the smaller fit |
iings is bronze fly. from the mouth of
which a light is pendant. These flies
are placed al irregular intervals on the
walls. and make curious and pretty |
effect. Cupids holding cut glass balls |
with dropping lamps Of bronze, and con-
tanning iwenty-four lights, are among |
the finest OF recent productions. One
recently made for Chicago millionaire
cost ft.000
For small rooms the favoriies are little |
slectroliers OF gilt aud white metal and |
oEidised silver or copper, with rose re- |
Aeotoss. The desigus are numerous. One |
made Of oEidized silver Is a boys face, |
with light shining from the mouth. An
other of the same pattern has two lights
coming through the eyes
Some of the three light fixtures are
highly artistic ono Of them, which is |
seen in many Fifth avenue houses. has
one light on globe pendant from the |
center, aud the others AZ the arms, with |
cWt glass drop calculated 10 increase the !
hrilliancy of the rohection.
To ht up large private house In the
latest styles OF electric lighting costs |
from 3i5Oo0 70 e2o. 200, exclusive of the |
plant Of course handsome fittings can |
b. had for ono.fourth Of that amount, /
bat thcse who want the ''the latest have /
b. pay eEtremely fancy prices Chicago |
Daily News.
Aasertcsus Lead Ia Cot Glass.