Kaiser Leuchten Desk Lamp 6857

Materials: Green painted round and flat metal (iron) base. Cast iron counterweight inside. Chrome rod. Black painted metal ornamental screw and joint. Adjustable green painted aluminium lampshade, painted white inside. Green painted joint. Some metal parts. Galvanized metal and porcelain E27 socket.

Lampshade: ∅ 21 cm / 8.26”

Height: 61 cm / 24.01”

Base: ∅ 20 cm / 7.87”

Electricity: 1 bulb E27, 1 x 75 watt maximum, 110/220 volt.
Any type of light bulb can be used, not a specific one preferred.

Period: 1960s, 1970s – Mid-Century Modern.

Designer: To be appraised.

Manufacturer: Gebr. Kaiser & Co. Leuchten KG, Lichttechnische Spezialfabrik (Light technical special factory), Neheim-Hüsten, Germany. 

Other versions: This Kaiser Leuchten desk lamp 6857 exists in several colours. It was made in many versions. The lampshade was used for many other lamps, with a clamp, a gooseneck other adjustment screws and so on. It was made for many years.

It also has different numbers, early versions  are 6857, later versions such as this one are numbered 15-1218-5130. Many other numbers were used, depending on colour and used materials. But all with the same lampshade and joint.

Gebr. Kaiser & Co. Leuchten KG

Gebr. Kaiser & Co. Leuchten KG, Lichttechnische Spezialfabrik, Neheim-Hüsten was founded by Hermann Kaiser, who came to Neheim as a worker from Heddinghausen. With a brother and a participant, he became self-employed in 1895.

At the beginning, the company concentrated on the production of nickel-plated and copper-plated lamp parts for the already existing lighting factories. The economic breakthrough came with the development of a very cheap petroleum lamp made of tinplate. During the First World War the production was converted to war materials such as storm batons.

After the war, the manufacture of electric lighting fixtures was expanded, and finally the whole branch of the business was transferred. During the period between the two world wars, the company developed into one of the largest lighting manufacturers in the region. not in the least thanks to the lamps designed by Christian Dell. 

As early as 1934 the number of workers was 350. This figure increased to about 600 to 700 employees until the beginning of the Second World War.

During the Second World War the production plants were completely destroyed. After the war a strong enterprise expansion began. Between 750 and 1000 people were temporarily employed.

Towards the end of the 1970s the company was acquired by Thorn Lighting Group. This became the property of an international investment company in 1993, and the remnants of production were transferred to Dortmund in 2000.

Several working lamps/desk lamps designed by Christian Dell are still in production and made by Fritz Hansen.