The Fascinating History of the original Bankers Lamp

The green bankers lamp is arguably the most famous desk lamp of all time. Ever since I saw it the first time I knew I would get one of my own eventually. When I did some research on this cool lamp, I found out that it has a long and interesting history, from its origin, rise to fame, and eventual fall from grace. Even though the company behind the original lamp is gone, the design still lives on, no small feat in today’s fast-moving society.

The lamps Origin

Although best known as the bankers lamp today, it was originally called the Emeralite, a combination of emerald and light.

The lamp’s story actually goes back as far as 1909, when American engineer Harrison D. McFaddin filed a patent application for “a new, original and ornamental design for lamp shades”. After he got the patent approved, the lamp quickly went into production with the first lamp being produced later the same year by the H. G McFaddin & Co.

The first design of the emeralite was actually quite simple. It had a brass-based or brass-plated base, holding a green over white cased glass shade. Even though the shade was available in other available colors, it was the green glass shade that became the most popular, and eventually became the signature that made the lamp so distinguishable with its emerald green color.

The neat, green glass shades were made using the cased glass technique, which is when you create a single glass piece by fusing two or more glass layers with different colors. The Emeralite only had two layers where the inner layer was white opal glass, and the outer layer was the colored/green.

Although the company of founder McFaddin was American and operated in America, they chose to produce all the glass shades at one factory, the J. Schreiber & Neffen glass factory, located in the city of Rapotin, Moravia, in present-day Czech Republic.

I could not find out the reason for this, but perhaps it was because of their skill, given that the cased glass technique requires some neat handiwork and skill.

No matter the reason, the agreement between the two companies stated that J. Schreiber & Neffen could only produce the glass shades for the H. G McFaddin & Co. which, in turn, were required to purchase a minimum volume of shades each year. The shades were then shipped to the US where they would be attached to their brass base.

At the Peak of Success

After starting production, the first production series had, as mentioned, a relatively simple design, but in the following production series, the brass base design changed, becoming more decorative for the second and third production series.

In addition, the attachment of the green glass shade changed. On the early models, it was attached through holes on each side of the shade. Later, the holes were replaced with clamps that held the shade in place at indentations in the glass.

The first 3 production series took place before the second world war, during which the lamp was most successful. The lamp’s design was appreciated as it combined an elegant design with functionality.

One feature that was much appreciated was the design of the glass shade, which was slightly flattened on the back and sides but sloped gently towards the user in the front, which provided focused lighting for the user.

Although the desk lamp became very popular, the company also produced other types of lamps with the emeralite style, such as bedside lamps and floor lamps. In addition, the desk lamps were given various features, such as removable inkwells, pen holders, clocks, and calendars, some of which are found on the antique, original emeralites sold today.

Why the Bankers Lamp?

The reason behind this is likely due to the fact that the Emeralite was embraced by financial institutions which ordered the lamps in huge numbers. One of the main reasons is that green was and still is, thought to be psychologically soothing, enhancing concentration and focus.

This belief was prominent in detailed-oriented occupations such as accounting, auditing, and budgeting, all of which are banking activities. Actually, this is the same reason why bankers and accountants often wore those green eyeshades/visors back in the days.

The emeralite capitalized on this, as the shade prevented intense light from being cast towards the user, but gave off a pleasant green light. By adding in some effective marketing, the emeralite became more than just a lamp, it became an elegant and stylish tool, thought to improve worker efficiency by lessening eyestrain and promoting concentration and focus.

One also has to take into account that the emeralite became a symbol of elegance in the prewar period. A time in which not all American or European homes had electricity. All these factors made the emeralite a prominent feature in financial institutions, which eventually led to it being known as the bankers lamp.

Although popular in financial institutions, they were far from the only ones to embrace this green lamp. Due to the belief in its psychological, beneficial effects and the elegant look, the lamp became a prominent feature in libraries, law offices, and the desk of any academic.

Post WW2 and the company’s demise

Following the outbreak of WW2 in 1939, things went downhill for the company, as the conflict made it impossible to attain the glass shades from Europe.

This led to the company moving away from the green glass shade, producing lamps with metal shades. Around the same time, The company was purchased by one of its employers, Charles Inness- Brown, as H.D. McFaddin chose to retire.

Inness- Brown actually changed the name of the company from H. G McFaddin & Co. to The Emeralite Co. and in addition to moving away from the glass shade, the lamp’s design was made more modern, marking the end of the lamps glory days.

Moving on to the late 1950s, Emeralite inc started to become unprofitable, and when owner Iness-Brown died in 1960, the company was sold and renamed again, becoming Tilarem inc. (Tilarem is emeralite backward without the first and last e’s).

Although having a new owner and name, the company never rebounded, and Tilarem inc. Was legally dissolved in 1962, ending the story of the company behind the iconic lamp.

The lamp today

Although the original company is long gone, the lamp design and its legacy still live on. For me, the lamp is arguably one of the most recognizable desk lamps in the world, largely due to its frequent appearance in movies and TV-shows.

Because of this, new lamps replicating the designs of the emeralite are produced all over the world and continue to decorate desks, offices, and libraries around the globe. Best yet, it means that you and I are able to buy one of our own!

The handful of remaining original emeralites have become highly valued, collectible antiques. Depending on the model and condition, these antique lamps can sell for anywhere between 500-1200 USD to the right buyer.

The prewar models with the characteristic green glass shades are by far the most popular and are sought after by eager collectors. Although getting one of these might be the pinnacle of owning a bankers lamp, you might just want to settle for a replica for starters.

Whether you own an original emeralite or a new model, you are sure to have a desk lamp that will continue to be fashionable for many years to come. I recommend you take a look at my guide where I talk about the best bankers lamp models or modern versions.