What is the history of the Anglepoise lamp?
In this video, he unveils the history behind the iconic Anglepoise Lamp. This iconic 1930s design was actually designed by car engineer George Carwardine – what made it special was the ultimate flexibility of the design, thanks to the specific type of spring and lever mechanism that Carwardine created, which was patented in 1932.
What's new at Anglepoise?
This designer’s playful colour-by-component approach highlights the mechanical functionality of the design and reinvents the Anglepoise for a new audience Having earlier developed triple scale Original 1227 Giant lamp, Anglepoise launches an extended Giant collection including lamps for outdoors.
Who are the owners of Anglepoise lighting?
In 1971 Herbert Terry & Sons was sold to the Associated Spring Corporation but in 1975 John Terry bought back the lighting part of the spring business to form the company Anglepoise Lighting Ltd, later abbreviated to Anglepoise. In 2002, Simon Terry succeeded his father at Anglepoise, becoming the 5th generation family member to lead the company.
Why is the Anglepoise so popular?
Efficient and energy-saving, the Anglepoise has remained in production ever since. Many inventors produce ingenious ideas because they set themselves a goal, such as improving the performance of a particular product or finding a new means of tackling a problem.
What inspired the Anglepoise design?
Sir Kenneth Grange's first lamp as Anglepoise® Design Director, the Type 3™ featured chrome plated solid steel and was influenced by the earlier Original 1227™ lamps by George Carwardine.
Why was the Anglepoise lamp made?
This made the lamps perfect for tasks where the light source would have to be constantly readjusted as the person using it needed to change their view of the task at hand.
How did the Anglepoise lamp save energy?
'The lamps were designed to be energy-saving long before environmental issues became fashionable and the first ones used 25 watt bulbs,' he says. 'Even now they can save energy by using a low wattage bulb to provide a bright focus.
Who invented the Anglepoise desk lamp 1227?
engineer George CarwardineFirst released in 1935, the Anglepoise Original 1227 desk lamp was designed by British engineer George Carwardine and is the basis for the entire Original 1227 collection.
Are Anglepoise lamps worth it?
Anglepoise aren't cheap, but they've lasted in the market because they're simply the best desk lamps there are. The base is heavy so that you can move and adjust the top to your heart's content without fear of it falling over or the base moving on your desk.
How do I identify an Anglepoise?
Earlier models had the shade rolled outwards at the bottom of the shade, whereas later models were often without this rolled edge. - A round base that has a relatively small footprint. - The fork has a more rounded profile. - The oval recess built into the fork will say 'Anglepoise'.
How was the name for the Anglepoise lamp come up with?
The original name, the 'Equipoise', was rejected by the Patent Office for being an existing word. So, after a swift name change, the Anglepoise Desk Lamp launched in 1933. The 4-spring lamp was an immediate hit.
Where is Anglepoise based?
We design all our products in the UK. At Anglepoise we choose to manufacture our products where most appropriate to do so.
Who invented the desk lamp?
To learn more about the brilliant engineer George Carwardine and his famous invention called the Anglepoise® lamp, follow this link. This is when the first “desk lamp” was born and it has slowly become a part of modern society.
Is Anglepoise a brand?
Anglepoise is a quintessentially British lighting brand that has been creating table lamps, desk lights, floor lamp and more for over 70 years.
Who was Herbert Terry?
Herbert Terry began as a fishing tackle maker. 1900s Herbert Terry, commenced a winding spring business in a terraced house in Redditch in the early 1900s, which very quickly progressed to Terry acquiring its first premises. 1913 Private company.
What did George Carwardine design in 1938?
George Carwardine, 'Anglepoise' lamp 1227, 1938 | The Fine Art Society Ltd.
Where are Anglepoise lamps manufactured?
At Anglepoise we choose to manufacture our products where most appropriate to do so. The majority of our standard collections are manufactured to our exact specifications in carefully selected factories in China, where we adopt a hands on approach to product development and quality control.
Where are Luxo lamps made?
Luxo ASA is a Norwegian manufacturer of lamps. Based in Oslo, it has sales throughout Europe and North America, with production plants in Norway, Sweden and Keila, Estonia.
What did George Carwardine design in 1938?
George Carwardine, 'Anglepoise' lamp 1227, 1938 | The Fine Art Society Ltd.
Who designed the Anglepoise lamp?
Original 1227 | Courtesy of Anglepoise. This iconic 1930s design was actually designed by car engineer George Carwardine – what made it special was the ultimate flexibility of the design, thanks to the specific type of spring and lever mechanism that Carwardine created, ...
Who designed the 1227 ceramic?
The original design was the 1227, with many other models and updates created throughout the 20th century – it was only in 2003 that renowned British designer Kenneth Grange resurrected the 1227 and gave it a fresh, contemporary twist, which became the Anglepoise Type 3.
Who designed the Anglepoise lamp?
Jump to navigation Jump to search. Anglepoise lamp '1227'. The Anglepoise lamp is a balanced-arm lamp designed in 1932 by British designer George Carwardine.
When was the Anglepoise lamp made?
1935 saw the release of the 1227 Anglepoise. An effective and revolutionary design, it was primarily manufactured for the home and proved to be extremely popular. The 1227 was hugely promoted by the Terry Spring Company and when the Second World War broke in 1939, the company ran an advert that same day describing it as the "ideal blackout lamp".
What company made anglepoise lamps?
Although the Second World War had a detrimental effect on standard Anglepoise production, the Terry Spring Company switched its objectives to benefit the war effort and, consequently, started producing Anglepoise lamps for bombers.
What is the anglepoise patent?
A key feature of the Anglepoise design and patent is the placement of all springs (either three or four) near the base. The design was extensively copied by other companies, usually in simplified form, and is still in use. Some derivatives use a heavy balance weight instead of the springs. The most common version replaces the arm linkages with two independent parallelogram linkages, with a pair of light tension springs on each half of the arm.
Where are the 1227 lamps made?
Although the lamp is still marketed as an iconic British design, production for all lamps, except the 1227 Giant model, has been moved to China.
What is the lamp in Luxo Jr?
The film company Pixar 's first short film Luxo Jr. featured an animated Luxo balanced-arm lamp, who is subsequently featured in all their title sequences. In the 2013 album Bambi, Momus used the springs from an Anglepoise Lamp to double for cymbals and coil reverb.
Who invented the anglepoise lamp?
The Anglepoise lamp. Designed by the automotive engineer George Carwardine, the Anglepoise lamp is based on the ability of a new type of spring and lever mechanism invented by Carwardine in 1932 to remain in position after being moved in every conceivable direction. Efficient and energy-saving, the Anglepoise has remained in production ever since.
Why are anglepoise inventions so ingenious?
Many inventors produce ingenious ideas because they set themselves a goal, such as improving the performance of a particular product or finding a new means of tackling a problem. They then set their sights on achieving it.
What was the name of the lamp that Carwardine made?
Carwardine intended to call his lamp the Equipoise but the name was rejected by the Trade Marks Registry at the Patent Office on the grounds that 'equipoise' was an existing word, so they settled on Anglepoise. The first version of the Anglepoise lamp, the 1208, was produced by Herbert Terry & Sons in 1934 with four springs.
What is a Terry lamp made of?
The lamp is entirely made of non-magnetic materials to avoid interaction with the nearby compass and friction adjusters are added to hold the arms in place during turbulence. 1968. Terry replaces the 1227 with the Anglepoise Model 75, which includes a round base and fluted shade held in place by a swivel ball. 1973.
What is the anglepoise model 75?
The 1969 Anglepoise Model 75 sported a round base and a fluted shade, held in place by a swivel ball. The 1989 Anglepoise Apex 90 refined the design of the Model 75 by adopting a modular jointing system for easy assembly.
When was Anglepoise 50 made?
Anglepoise ‘Fifty’ is introduced in 2006 as a limited edition. This is a polycarbonate lamp designed by Anthony Dickens. The Type 1228 is designed by Kenneth Grange. As with the earlier Type 75, the design is developed to encompass desk, floor, wall and ceiling options.
What is the 90 lamp?
The Model 90 replaces the earlier Model 75 to meet British Standards requirements. This lamp is ahead of its time, using an internationally certified switch and lamp holder with reinforced insulation with negates the need for an earth wire
Who invented the anglepoise lamp?
The British designer, George Carwardine, invented the Anglepoise Lamp in 1931. The Anglepoise is made up of springs rather than clamps for easy positioning purposes. The idea behind the angled design makes it so that wherever you place the lamp, you have a spotlight-like action on whatever project you focus on.
When was the Anglepoise lamp made?
A few years later, beginning in 1934, Carwardine partnered with Herbert Terry & Sons and old its first Anglepoise lamp. The first model (Model 1208) used four springs, but shortly after, a second model was born consisting of only three springs. The second model lasted nearly three decades until Anglepoise Lighting Ltd. became its own company in the 1970s.
What is an Anglepoise Lamp Called in America?
Most Americans refer to the Anglepoise type of lamp as either a draft lamp, balanced arm lamp, or swing-arm lamp.
Why is the Anglepoise so popular?
Another reason the Anglepoise is so successful is precisely due to its style and endless uses. In today’s day, everyone uses the Anglepoise, from writers to artists, students, professors, salespeople, and people in business. It’s the one lamp that you see in almost every person’s house you visit.
What does the name Anglepoise mean?
Poise means balance, equal, graceful, and elegant. The Anglepoise speaks to its charm through the name.
What makes an anglepoise unique?
Part of what makes the Anglepoise unique is its durability, which impressed millions worldwide because of what happened during world war 2.
Why do people use anglepoise?
Many people prefer the floor Anglepoise as it is convenient to use more space on their desks and create a better visual experience.
Who made Anglepoise springs?
Established in 1855, Herbert Terry and Sons spent their early years manufacturing springs and presswork for traders. As the 1920s hit, Terry began developing a wide range of products, including toast racks, pen holders, bicycle saddles and the key to Anglepoise’s success: Springs.
What is Anglepoise's stamp?
In celebration of their 75th anniversary, Anglepoise was awarded its very own Royal Mail stamp, along with a variety of other British icons, including The K2 Telephone Kiosk, the Routemaster Bus, the Mini Skirt and the Polypropylene Chair.
What is Anglepoise original 1227?
While the task lamp was a pristine product, it was considered too industrial for domestic interiors. As a solution, Carwardine and the designers at Terry + Sons developed a three spring version of the lamp. While it has been refined over time, it was this design that became known as the Anglepoise Original 1227.
Overview
History and development
George Carwardine (1887–1947) was a car designer and, at the same time he invented the Anglepoise lamp, (as a freelance) design consultant specialising in vehicle suspension systems. While developing new concepts for vehicle suspensions, he created a mechanism which he recognised had applications in other fields. He particularly saw its benefits for a task lamp. Despite many clai…
Anglepoise lamps at the BBC
In 1948 the Board of Governors of the BBC asked the head of the Variety Department, Michael Standing, to devise a guiding set of moral standards and protocols for the production of all BBC radio and television programmes. Standing produced what became known within the BBC as the "Green Book", whose purpose was to eradicate smut, innuendo and vulgarity from all BBC programmes. After producing the book Standing took to implementing his guidance with eccent…
In culture
• "(I Wanna Be an) Anglepoise Lamp" 1978 single by the Soft Boys.
• The protagonist of Salman Rushdie's 1980 novel Midnight's Children, Saleem Sinai, makes repeated references to the Anglepoise lamp in the light of which he writes.
• Peter Gabriel's "Shock the Monkey" 1982 video features "dancing" Anglepoise lamps.
See also
• Balanced-arm lamp
• Industrial design
• Over-illumination
• The Luxo lamp, a 1937 Norwegian derivative of the Anglepoise design
External links
• DesignMuseum.org, The Design Museum page on the lamp and its development / history.
• www.anglepoise.com, Maker's home page
• Angelpoise collection, Angelpoise collection
• The Anglepoise: a History, Harry Langworthy