Links (external links open in a new window)
The complete history of the Philips company on their website
Website of the Philips Museum in Eindhoven
Jo, the film (1971) – Wikipedia
Vintageinfo
LIta Brass Picture Lamp
Materials: Oblong oval polished brass revolving lampshade white painted brass on the back. Ornamental brass screw, adjustable clamp. Bakelite E14 socket. Pull cord switch.
Width: 20 cm / 7.87”
Depth: 14 cm / 5.51”
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.
Period: 1950s, 1960s – Mid-Century Modern.
Designer: To be appraised.
Manufacturer: Lita, France.
Other versions: These Lita brass picture lamp exists as a wall lamp and a table lamp. Made in several colours.
It is always said that these lamps are a design of Jacques Biny, but in all probability it is not true. I have not found any evidence of this.
Lita
Lita, founded by Georges Houplain in 1950, was a French manufacturer of lighting and spotlights for gardening and interior lighting. It was acquired by La Compagnie des Lampes together with Projelux in 1974. La Compagnie des Lampes was renamed into Mazda. Francis Blommaers became the new CEO.
The names Projelux en Lita were used for a couple of years. Projelux made several Philips lamps for the French market.
In 2002Philips merged with Mazda. The two brands still coexist, but the Philips products are presented in the catalogue of Mazda and vice versa. From 2007, products previously sold (and labelled) as Mazda products are now sold and labelled as Philips products.
In 2011, the brand Mazda Eclairage and its website, officially disappears to give place to the brand Philips.
Mazda
The name Mazda was for the first time used in the United States in 1909 by General Electric. At that time the light bulbs were not standardised, a problem for customers whereby each lamp holder or each appliance corresponded to a precise type or lamp brand. General Electric therefore had the idea of creating a standard to which any company could adhere.Light bulbs manufactured from the specifications of this standard were marketed as Mazda lamps.Around 1920, many American companies, including General Electric and Westinghouse used the name Mazda to market their lamps.
Several lamps produced by Lita were sold in Australia by Kempthorne, also this one.
Lamps In The Movies!
A Lita brass picture lamp appears in the Jean Girault film Jo from 1971. The movie is also known in English as Joe: The Busy Body or The Gazebo. A movie with the famous French comedy actor Louis de Funès (1914-1983). Also, Cassiopée chandeliers made by Max Sauze and Fuga wall lamps by Raak Amsterdam appear in this comedy. A Pan wall lamp designed by Bent Karlby for Lyfa is also present. In these scenes the picture lamps were used as bedside wall lamps.
