Hala 144 Desk Lamp –

Hala 144 Desk Lamp – Catalogue 1959

Hala 144 Desk Lamp – Catalogue 1967

Lamps in the movies

A Hala 144 desk lamp was used as a prop in the Dutch romantic comedy film Honneponnetje (Honey-bun or Sweetheart) from 1988. Starring Nada van Nie, Marc Hazewinkel and Herbert Flack.

A Hala 144 desk lamp was used as a prop in the 2015 – 2018 French parody spy TV series Au Service De La France (A Very Secret Service). Starring Hugo Becker, Wilfred Benaïche and Christophe Kourotchkine. Many lamps were used, mostly French lamps. Here in episode 7, season 2 (behind the stitching machine).

A Hala 144 desk lamp was used as a prop in the 1995 – 2006 Dutch television crime series Baantjer. Starring Piet Römer, Victor Reinier and Martin Schwab. The Hala desk lamp appears in almost every episode.

Many thanks to Marjan from Vintage Drachten for the beautiful pictures and the enthusiasm. Many thanks to John for the enlightening article from Eigen Huis & Interieur.

Hala 144 Desk Lamp

Materials: White painted round flat metal (iron) base. Chrome adjustable rod and joint with a built-in switch. Curved chrome rod on top. Adjustable white acrylic mushroom lampshade. Some metal parts. Bakelite E 27 socket.

Height: 45 cm / 15.74”

Lampshade: ∅ 26 cm / 10.23”

Base: ∅ 19 cm / 7.48”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 100 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1970s.

Designer: Herman Theodoor Jan Anthoin Busquet (February 9, 1914 – June 12, 1977).

Manufacturer: Hala Zeist Lampenfabriek, Zeist, The Netherlands.

Other versions: This Hala 144 desk lamp/table lamp exists in several colours.

The original editions of this Hala 144 desk lamp from the 1930’s have a pull cord switch. Later versions in the 50’s and 60’s have a cord switch, as you can see on the left. More recent versions such as this one have the switch on the rod (70’s-80’s). The latest editions, produced until recent years (early 2000’s), have a cord switch.

The original Hala 144 desk lamp is one of the first designs by mister Busquet when he started the company in 1932 and it was an instant success. Herman TJA Busquet was only 18 years old at that time.

Hala Zeist Lampenfabriek

Hala is one of the first light companies of The Netherlands, originated in 1932 in the city of Zeist and later moved to Amersfoort.
Herman Theodoor Jan Anthoin Busquet, the designer of many Hala lamps is also the founder of the company.

The company’s origin is in Hannover, Germany. The name is derived from the Hannoversche Lampenfabrik GmbH, founded in 1920. HALA Hanover ended business in the 1960s. Both companies sold the same lamps and used similar catalogues. Hala from The Netherlands never stopped business.

Dijkstra Lampen B.V.

In 2011 Hala took over Dijkstra Lampen from Haarlem, also in the Netherlands. In 2013 Fokke Dijkstra junior was in a position to buy back the company his grandfather started. “Making lamps is in our genes” thus Fokke Dijkstra jr.

Today the company is located in Almere (since 2008) and is part of Maretti Lighting. A lot of Hala lamps are still for sale in the Maretti webshop.

Acrylic: often named by its commercial name: Perspex, Plexiglas, Crylux, Acrylite, Lucite, is a thermoplastic.

Text of the article in Dutch

Op een kantoor hebben deze bureaulampen ± 25 jaar hun werk gedaan om daarna voor ± 15 jaar in een opslagruimte te verdwijnen. Nu heb ik ze. Bij de Bijenkorf zag ik ze nieuw te koop, in dezelfde vormgeving, maar met andere details. Hoop dat u er iets over weet.

Deze bureaulamp is gemaakt door HALA Nederlandsche Lampenfabriek NV opgericht in het begin van de jaren dertig. In 1935 werd een ontwerp van H. Th. Busquet in produktie genomen. Het model was een groot succes en werd snel in de goede vakbladen gepubliceerd. De fabrikant besloot na 20 jaar een afleiding van het ontwerp van Busquet in de handel te brengen. Dat is uw model geworden. De voornaamste wijzigingen waren de scharnierende punten op de voetplaat en op de kap en verder liet men de trekschakelaar vervallen. Ook deze lamp bleek een succes en wordt nu nog steeds gefabriceerd!

De huidige uitvoering heeft niet meer het handige drukschakelaartje op de staaf en is in kleine details afwijkend van uw model. Behalve in chroom gecombineerd met kleurlak, is er ook een mooie uitvoering met blank geschuurd aluminium voet en kap leverbaar. Aan het eind van dit jaar komt er een versie in brons, waarmee wordt teruggegrepen op een uitvoering van het sterke design uit 1935.

Text of the article in English

In an office, these desk lamps have been doing their work for about 25 years and then disappearing into a storage room for about 15 years. Now I have them. At the Bijenkorf (Dutch shop) I saw them for sale new, in the same design, but with different details. Hope you know something about it?

This desk lamp was made by HALA Nederlandsche Lampenfabriek NV established in the early 1930s. In 1935 a design by H. Th. Busquet was put into production. The model was a great success and was quickly published in the good journals. The manufacturer decided after 20 years to place a derivation of the Busquet design on the market. That has become your model. The main changes were the hinged points on the base plate and on the hood and the pull switch was dropped. This lamp was also a success and is still being manufactured today!

The current version no longer has the handy pressure switch on the bar and differs from your model in small details. Except in chrome combined with color lacquer, there is also a beautiful version with bare aluminum foot and hood available. At the end of this year there will be a version in bronze, which will go back to a performance of the strong design from 1935.

Herkomst Onbekend – (Origin Unknown) – Column in the excellent Dutch magazine Eigen Huis & Interieur early 2000s