Street Light Technical Information Willis Lamm   STREET LIGHTS: Patents from 1930 through 1931

Patents are an effective way to understand the development of street lighting in the United States. In this section I have posted patents as I located them. (Early patents are difficult to locate as they were not cross-indexed.) All patents are listed in order of their filing dates. Click on the patent number or thumbnail to view the entire patent.

The Great Depression appeared to have little impact on inventors. The 1930s produced a prolific volume of new ideas and designs.

Patent No. 1798013 Filing date: January 16, 1930 Patent date: March 24, 1931 Title: Holder for Globes of Street Lamps Inventor: Benjamine H. Colbert Claims: Adjustable mechanism for supporting post street lamp globes.
Patent No. 1843454 Filing date: March 1, 1930 Patent date: February 2, 1932 Title: Mast Arm Support Inventor: Ralph H. Manson Assignee: Hubbard and Co. Claims: Improved mast arm bracket to pole mounting hardware.
Patent No. 1848276 Filing date: March 20, 1930 Patent date: March 8, 1932 Title: Light Fixture Inventor: Robert L. Smythe and Lawrence F. Giese Assignee: Line Material Co. Claims: Improved pendant luminaire and hinging / latching mechanism.
Patent No. 1807430 Filing date: March 25, 1930 Patent date: May 26, 1931 Title: Cut-Out for Series Incandescent Street Lighting and the Like Inventor: Joseph W. Owens Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Bayonet based resettable magnetic cutout for series incandescent luminaires.
Patent No. 1885732 (German filing date: April 17, 1930) Filing date: April 14, 1931 Patent date: November 1, 1932 Title: Raising and Traversing Mechanism for Suspended Street Lamps Inventor: Fritz Krohn Claims: Combined mechanism for simultaneously traversing suspended lamps to the side of the roadway and lowering them for servicing.
Patent No. 1807389 Filing date: May 15, 1930 Patent date: May 26, 1931 Title: Cut-Out for Series Incandescent Street Lighting and the Like Inventor: Harry R. Crago Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Bayonet based resettable magnetic cutout for series incandescent luminaires.
Patent No. 1944751 Filing date: July 18, 1930 Patent date: January 23, 1934 Title: Light Control System Inventor: frederick W. Lyle Assignee: Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co. Claims: Photocontrol that selects the number of lights needed depending on ambient light levels.
Patent No. 1797555 Filing date: August 14, 1930 Patent date: March 24, 1931 Title: Method for Attaching Shields to an Electric Light Fixture Inventor: Kenneth A. Sawin Assignee: Wheeler Reflector Co. Claims: Method for attaching deflector shields to radial wave reflectors.
Patent No. 1830484 Filing date: September 10, 1930 Patent date: November 3, 1931 Title: Sighting Mark for Refractors or the Like Inventor: Thomas W. Rolfe Assignee: Holophane Co. Claims: Sighting mark for adjusting the level of lamp sockets to provide various lighting patterns.
Patent No. 1883467 Filing date: November 8, 1930 Patent date: October 18, 1932 Title: Breakable Ring for Hydrants, Street Lamp Columns, Metal or Concrete Poles, Etc. Inventor: Frederick R. Banks Assignee: Kennedy Valve Manufacturing Co. Claims: Break-away section that fits between the mast and anchor bolts.
Patent No. 1847775 Filing date: December 8, 1930 Patent date: March 1, 1932 Title: Street Lamp Inventor: Joseph E. Manfre Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Street lamp with stackable panels for signage.
Patent No. 1916169 Filing date: January 23, 1931 Patent date: June 27, 1933 Title: Lighting Appliance Inventor: Maurice Exelmans Assignee: Holophane Co. Claims: Dual prismatic gumball refractor.
Patent No. 1860791 Filing date: February 27, 1931 Patent date: May 31, 1932 Title: Lighting Fixture Inventor: Noah T. Thomas Assignee: Hartford Faience Co. Claims: Porcelain street light head.
Patent No. 2043671 Filing date: April 6, 1931 Patent date: June 9, 1936 Title: Lighting System Controlled by Photoelectric Cell Inventor: Archie J. McMaster Claims: Tube tye photocontrol that resolves the chattering issue.
Patent No. 1885655 Filing date: April 30, 1931 Patent date: November 1, 1932 Title: Shade Holder Inventor: Joseph A. Volk Claims: Rain resistant luminaire with easily detachable refractor.
Patent No. 1859694 Filing date: June 4, 1931 Patent date: May 24, 1932 Title: Street Lighting Fixture Inventor: George H. Cole Assignee: Line Material Co. Claims: Luminaire with internal relay for multiple circuits using a control circuit.
Patent No. 1891136 Filing date: June 25, 1931 Patent date: December 13, 1932 Title: Street Illumination Inventor: Morris B. Beck and John Whitaker Assignee: Welsback Street Lighting Co. Claims: Lamp bulb with prismatic diffusing band.
Patent No. 1941377 Filing date: July 1, 1931 Patent date: December 26, 1933 Title: Time Selector Mechanism Inventor: John L. Woodworth Assignee: General Electric Co. Claims: Remote selectable timing system.
Patent No. 1977612 Filing date: July 3, 1931 Patent date: October 23, 1934 Title: Street Lighting Luminair Inventor: Morris B. Beck and John Whittaker Assignee: Welsbach Street Lighting Co. Claims: Lamp bulb with prismatic band.
Patent No. 1977613 Filing date: July 6, 1931 Patent date: October 23, 1934 Title: Street Lighting Luminair Inventor: Morris B. Beck and John Whittaker Assignee: Welsbach Street Lighting Co. Claims: Lamp bulb with reflecting bands.
Patent No. 1977614 Filing date: July 6, 1931 Patent date: October 23, 1934 Title: Street Lighting Luminair Inventor: Morris B. Beck and John Whittaker Assignee: Welsbach Street Lighting Co. Claims: Lamp bulb with reflecting bands.
Patent No. 1891137 Filing date: July 18, 1931 Patent date: December 13, 1932 Title: Street Illumination Inventor: Morris B. Beck and John Whittaker Assignee: Welsback Street Lighting Co. Claims: Lamp bulb with prismatic diffusing band.
Patent No. 1900330 Filing date: August 21, 1931 Patent date: March 7, 1933 Title: Lighting Fixture Inventor: John B. Chartrand Assignee: Line Material Co. Claims: Post mounted luminaire with improved vehtilation.
Patent No. 1975282 Filing date: September 17, 1931 Patent date: October 2, 1934 Title: Reflector Mounting Inventor: Harry Yale Mageoch Assignee: Electric Service Supplies Co. Claims: Adjustable deflector for post mounted luminaire.
Patent No. 1930735 Filing date: December 24, 1931 Patent date: October 17, 1933 Title: Terminal Mounting for Light Fixtures Inventor: Thomas G. Yarsley Assignee: Hartford Faience Co. Claims: Inproved terminal mounting for series luminaires.
Patent No. 1947118 Filing date: December 24, 1931 Patent date: February 13, 1934 Title: Lighting Fixture Inventor: Noah T. Thomas Assignee: Hartford Faience Co. Claims: Inproved porcelain series luminaire body.

Continue to 1932 - 1933

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Please note: This index is a work in progress. If you notice an error or are aware of something that is missing, please feel free to Email me. Thanks!