death_date death_place children birth_place image_size birth_date known_for article_title name occupation
29 august 1943 washington , d.c. , u.s. victor samuel johnson , jr. near minden , nebraska , u.s. 225px 6 february 1882 founder of aladdin industries victor s. johnson , sr. .
 victor s. johnson , sr. . businessman
victor s. johnson , sr. .

victor samuel johnson , sr. -lrb- february 6 , 1882 -- august 29 , 1943 -rrb- was an american businessman who founded aladdin industries , best known as manufacturers of kerosene mantle lamps .
in 1904 , he was a bookkeeper and salesman for the iowa soap company in burlington , iowa .
after seeing german kerosene lamp models that were more efficient than american models , he formed the western lighting company in minneapolis , minnesota in 1907 and began selling the better lamps .
on february 27 , 1908 he incorporated the mantle lamp company of america .
early in 1909 johnson introduced the aladdin lamp , which succeeded beyond all expectations and led to subsequent improved models over the next 40 years .
after johnson 's unexpected death in 1943 , his son , victor samuel johnson , jr. succeeded him and expanded the company .
