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Squarelite Supt. Lamp I Marking
Squarelite Supt Lamp Stick
Squarelite Supt Lamp I and Highgrader Stick
Squarelite Supt Lamp I and Highgrader Stick Bottom
Shanklin SquareLite Patent
  Squarelite Reinforced Side Supt Lamp II.JPG - SQUARELITE WITH REINFORCED SIDE - Brass Guy’s Dropper Squarelite superintendent’s lamp, 5 ¼ in. tall, 2 ½ in. square top, 3 in. dia. reflector, marked on side of lamp tank in shield SQUARELITE PAT. MAY 26-14 SEPT. 19-16 OCT. 17-16 and GUY’S DROPPER PAT. 5.26.14 - 9.19.16 on top, with folding handles and hook, large size with reinforcing bands on tank sides, ex-Errol Christman and Bob Schroth collections (The Shanklin Manufacturing Co. of Springfield, IL was a prominent producer of miner's carbide lamps with its famous "Guy's Dropper" carbide cap lamp. Designed by Frank Guy, he obtained his first patent in 1910 (#974,054 of Oct. 25, 1910) and two additional patents (#1,097,716 of May 26, 1914 and #1,198,537 of Sept. 19, 1916) while developing a business arrangement with brothers George and Edgar Shanklin to manufacture the lamps. In 1913, the brothers formed the Shanklin Manufacturing Co. to mass produce the Guy's Dropper lamp. The two-date model refers to the 1914 and 1916 patent dates. The single date Guy's Dropper lamps are quite scarce. The war years of 1917-18 substantially increased the demand for carbide lamps as the need for coal and minerals peaked. The Guy's Dropper benefited with this demand with increased production of both the cap and hand lamps. In addition, Shanklin manufactured a Guy's Dropper cap and superintendent-style hand lamp variation known as the "Squarelite," distinguished by the square shape of the lamp top as shown here. The Squarelite design was patented by George Shanklin on Oct. 17, 1916 as #49,782. These lamps are scarce and coveted by collectors. As with other carbide lamp manufacturers, the 1920s brought a decline in the demand for acetylene lamps and problems for the Shanklin company. In 1932, the Shanklin Manufacturing Co. was sold to the Universal Lamp Co. where the Guy's Dropper continued in production as a best-selling Universal product until the company ceased manufacturing carbide lamps in 1960. See Clemmer, American Miner's Carbide Lamps, pp 85-88)  
Squarelite Reinforced Side Supt Lamp II Top
Squarelite Lamp II Bottom
Squarelite Trip Lamp RSide
Squarelite Trip Lamp Back
Squarelite Trip Lamp LSide

Squarelite Reinforced Side Supt Lamp II | SQUARELITE WITH REINFORCED SIDE - Brass Guy’s Dropper Squarelite superintendent’s lamp, 5 ¼ in. tall, 2 ½ in. square top, 3 in. dia. reflector, marked on side of lamp tank in shield SQUARELITE PAT. MAY 26-14 SEPT. 19-16 OCT. 17-16 and GUY’S DROPPER PAT. 5.26.14 - 9.19.16 on top, with folding handles and hook, large size with reinforcing bands on tank sides, ex-Errol Christman and Bob Schroth collections (The Shanklin Manufacturing Co. of Springfield, IL was a prominent producer of miner's carbide lamps with its famous "Guy's Dropper" carbide cap lamp. Designed by Frank Guy, he obtained his first patent in 1910 (#974,054 of Oct. 25, 1910) and two additional patents (#1,097,716 of May 26, 1914 and #1,198,537 of Sept. 19, 1916) while developing a business arrangement with brothers George and Edgar Shanklin to manufacture the lamps. In 1913, the brothers formed the Shanklin Manufacturing Co. to mass produce the Guy's Dropper lamp. The two-date model refers to the 1914 and 1916 patent dates. The single date Guy's Dropper lamps are quite scarce. The war years of 1917-18 substantially increased the demand for carbide lamps as the need for coal and minerals peaked. The Guy's Dropper benefited with this demand with increased production of both the cap and hand lamps. In addition, Shanklin manufactured a Guy's Dropper cap and superintendent-style hand lamp variation known as the "Squarelite," distinguished by the square shape of the lamp top as shown here. The Squarelite design was patented by George Shanklin on Oct. 17, 1916 as #49,782. These lamps are scarce and coveted by collectors. As with other carbide lamp manufacturers, the 1920s brought a decline in the demand for acetylene lamps and problems for the Shanklin company. In 1932, the Shanklin Manufacturing Co. was sold to the Universal Lamp Co. where the Guy's Dropper continued in production as a best-selling Universal product until the company ceased manufacturing carbide lamps in 1960. See Clemmer, American Miner's Carbide Lamps, pp 85-88) Download Original Image
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