American Automatic Lighting Co. - exhibitions & historical information

ADC staff
artdesigncafé - design | Design Meriden | 24 September 2020 | Updated 29 September 2020

"The American Automatic Lighting Co. is... a joint-stock corporation, organized in March, 1893... Less than four years ago this ’New Light’ was almost unknown, but it has since grown rapidly in favor, and is now in practical use throughout the United States. The system consists of an entirely new method for utilizing hydro-carbon oil, eliminating objections to oil lights and substituting all the conveniences of gas, securing perfect combustion combined with wonderful brilliancy of flame. The new light is simple, practical, effective and economical... The company gave a fine exhibition at the World’s Fair, Chicago... " — Davis, William T. (Ed.) (c. 1897). The New England states, their constitutional, judicial, educational, commercial, professional and industrial history, vol. 2, (pp. 928-29). See entry listed below.



A. American Automatic Lighting Co. in expositions


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1890s

1893 - World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago

1 May - 30 October 1893. World’s Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois.

> Unspecified designs exhibited by the American Automatic Lighting Co.

  • For documentation, see historical information in section below.



See our Design Meriden compilation listing over 1000 exhibitions since 1851, featuring historical design associated with the Meriden area.


B. American Automatic Lighting Co. - historical information (by year)


1890s

Various newspapers, magazines and other sources

(c. 1892-). Various newspapers, magazines and other sources - search engines.

1892 - patent - hydrocarbon-lighting device

Frederick A. Cody and Lyman T. Lawton, assignors to the American Automatic Lighting Company. (11 October 1892; filed 29 October 1890). Letters patent no. 484,354; serial no. 369,660. (Viewed 29 September 2020. E01609).

1893 - catalogue - American Automatic Lighting Co. in World’s Columbian Exposition

(1893). World’s Columbian Exposition, 1893, Official catalogue, Part VIII (exhibition dates: 1 May - 30 October 1893). [Listed: American Automatic Lighting Co. (p. 42)]. W. B. Conkey Company: Chicago. (Viewed 30 September 2020. A00850-56).

1893 - book - American Automatic Lighting Co. in World’s Columbian Exposition

(1898). Connecticut at the World’s Fair: Report of the commissioners from Connecticut of the Columbian Exhibition of 1893 at Chicago (exhibition dates: 1 May - 30 October 1893). [Listed: American Automatic Light Co. (p. 130)]. Case, Lockwood & Brainard Company: Hartford, CT. (Viewed 30 September 2020. A01528-31).

c. 1897 - book mention

Davis, William T. (Ed.) (c. 1897). On "American Automatic Lighting Co.", (pp. 928-29). (See excerpt at top of this webpage.) In The New England states, their constitutional, judicial, educational, commercial, professional and industrial history, vol. 2. Boston: D. H. Hurd & Co. (Viewed 28 September 2020. A02626; A02633; A02640; E01583.)



Click the following link to see designs and documentation for other historical companies from the Meriden area, and those that were connected to the International Silver Company; go to the historical Meriden design overview page and scroll down to section D: "ISC, predecessors & divisions" and E: "Other featured companies".