1950s Conical Bedside Table Lamp

1950s conical bedside table lamp round metal base brass rod perforated lampshade ERPEES Pfäffle Leuchten Germany

1950s Conical Bedside Table Lamp - ERPEES, Pfäffle Leuchten, Germany

1950s Conical Bedside Table Lamp – 1964 Wholesale Catalogue Picture

Several ERPEES table lamps shown together on a single catalogue page. This lamp is located in the bottom row.

Many thanks to Max from AfterMidnight for the catalogue picture.

Materials: Round white painted metal (iron) base with a built-in switch. Curved brass rod. Adjustable white painted perforated lampshade with many small holes. Metal E14 socket.

Height: 23,5 cm / 9.25” – adjustable

Lampshade: ∅ 7,5 x 12 cm / 2.95 x 4.72”

Base: ∅ 8,4 cm / 3.30”

Electricity: 1 bulb E14, 1 x 40 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred. For this setup a small bulb was used.

Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: Robert Pfäffle KG., Elektrotechnische Fabrik, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany – ERPEES.

Other versions: This 1950s conical bedside table lamp comes in several colours and slight variations.

Produced in the late 1950s to early 1960s, this lamp appears in a 1964 wholesale catalogue, shown among a large group of lamps, several of which are known to have been manufactured by Pfäffle Leuchten.

The base, available with or without an integrated switch, was used for a number of other lamp models. Several additional components are also shared with other designs from the same period. Based on these constructional similarities, this lamp is attributed to ERPEES.

This bedside table lamp also appears in the German reference book “Jetzt kommt Licht ins Wirtschaftswunder…” (“Now There Is Light in the Economic Miracle…”), a publication on 1950s lighting in Germany written by Claudia Gross-Roath. Unfortunately, the manufacturer is not mentioned. While the book is an interesting and valuable source, it does contain a number of inaccuracies.

Pfäffle Leuchten

In 1909, Robert Pfäffle founded an office for electrical engineering and wholesale electrical consumer goods in Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany. The town is located near the eastern edge of the Black Forest, close to the Austrian border.

After 1949, the company continued as a limited partnership under the name Robert Pfäffle KG – Electrical and Lighting Equipment Factory. The firm mainly produced table and bedside lamps, wall and mirror lights under the ERPEES brand, as well as universal tube lamps, ceiling lights and floor lamps.

Following insolvency proceedings in 1984, the company was officially removed from the commercial register in 1986.

The company’s best-known and most successful product is the Chronolux desk lamp, a 1970s design featuring a digital clock and alarm. Designed by Knox, the Chronolux was produced in many variations and remained in production for a considerable period.

Pfäffle Leuchten was also a regular supplier to the German mail-order company Neckermann. At the time, Neckermann operated exclusively as a mail-order business, offering a wide range of consumer goods, including lighting.

The relationship does not appear to have been exclusive. Neckermann also sold lamps produced by Aro Leuchten and likely by other manufacturers as well. Nevertheless, period catalogues confirm that Pfäffle / ERPEES lamps were part of Neckermann’s lighting range, establishing Pfäffle as one of its documented suppliers.