Antique White Flame Light Co Grand Rapids Michigan Hand Painted Glass Oil

Rare hand painted hurricane style oil lamp from the White Flame Light Company Grand Rapids Michigan. As you can see from the photos, this lamp is in exceptional condition. With the glass hurricane style globe in place it's about 17-1/2 inches tall. This is a very nice piece of history from the late 1800's or very early 1900's From Grandrapids.org " One night Victor Blandford’s mother stated that either her eyesight was getting dim or the light from the oil lamp was inadequate. She found it difficult to read by the yellow light. Victor, who was 16 and attending McLaughlin’s Business College at the time, took a look at the wick. He trimmed it, but no difference. He tinkered with it. Then he punched holes in the base of the burner and added small brads on the rim to raise the chimney just enough to admit air. Finally, he cut, by hand, a mantle of steel and inserted it around the wick. The mantle vaporized the oil by adding heat and mixing oxygen with the oil to give out a white light. His mother was utterly pleased with the result and her neighbors were quite envious. Victor made a few more mantles, still using the old Queen Anne base. Business was on a shoestring, but he was in business and worked on it Saturdays and weekends. Victor carried a black case containing his light and an old Queen Anne burner to demonstrate the difference to farmers in the area. Soon he commissioned agents in many places—burners were now manufactured from dies in Connecticut, shipped in carload lots to Grand Rapids where they were assembled, and sent to all part of the United States, Canada, and foreign countries. Solving his mother’s problem resulted in Victor’s thriving business." REMINDER - Most of the items in our collection consist of pieces that are of antique and vintage condition, which means that all our items are second-hand and used. Customers are not purchasing 'new', 'perfect' and 'unworn items', and as such, should expect wear and imperfection. It should be expected that these pieces will have normal wear and tear according to their age. Wear could include patina, scuffs on the gold, slightly loose but secure stones, and light scratches on the stones. We try our best to photograph everything accurately with detailed pictures that can be enlarged and will point out any flaws we feel are noteworthy. Please review the photos carefully before purchasing and reach out to us with any questions. These items come from estates and consigners, and we do not clean or polish our items unless otherwise noted. Photos are part of the description, so please see pictures for details. RETURNS: All sales are final. If you are unhappy with your purchase, please let me know so we can find a solution. I document all flaws that I’m aware of through the photos and written description, so it is imperative that you have a full understanding of what you are purchasing before you commit to any item. SHIPPING: *Standard shipping with tracking (delivery confirmation and signature required available for an additional fee) to all US states and Puerto Rico. Important Tax Information: Attention to all buyers, Pricetronic will now be collecting sales tax on behalf of various states. For a complete list of this states, please see Pricetronic's page on sales tax or contact Pricetronic directly. Pricetronic will be collecting sales tax for ALL transactions that are affected by these new e-commerce laws. Sellers are not able to opt out of selling items into the states that are effected or opt out of Pricetronic automatically collecting sales tax. We are not able to change the sales tax, nor are we able to see the amount of sales tax charged. We will not refund the difference if sales tax is added and the buyer is unaware of this additional charge. When a buyer purchases an item on Pricetronic, and the ship to address is one of the above states, Pricetronic will calculate and add the applicable sales tax at checkout. The buyer will pay both the cost of the item along with the sales tax. Pricetronic will collect and remit the tax. - per Pricetronic *U.S. Accounts Only. Under no circumstances can we or will we sell internationally. No exceptions to this policy. We won't make exceptions. *All jewelry and electronics over the cost of $350.00 or delivered to a PO Box, Apartment, Suite, etc. may have signature requirement.