Oilwick Lamps/Thompson & Walker Marking

Oilwick Lamps

Thompson & Walker Marking.JPG - THOMPSON & WALKER - Tin drivers lamp, 3 1/4 in. to top of lid, 1 5/8 in. base dia., 3 3/4 in. spout, rare marking THOMPSON & WALKER WHAT CHEER IOWA, rear opening lid, unfired, ex-Tony Moon collection with W246 label on bottom (The first industrial development in What Cheer was driven by the needs of the coal mines. In 1890, What Cheer was home to three firms making mining drills. One of these firms, Thompson & Walker, reorganized in the late 1890s and was renamed the What Cheer Drill and Miner’s Tool Co. with Alexander Walker as president. Walker was a prolific inventor holding 17 patents for coal mining tools including one for a combined fuse cutter and splitter, most of which were assigned to the company. Within the decade, the What Cheer Drill and Miners' Tool Company was selling equipment in mining districts around the nation. Somewhat later, the company’s name was shortened to the What Cheer Tool Co. Sometime during this time period, the company included a very hard to find oilwick lamp marked Thompson and Walker as shown here in its product line. Additional wick lamps with the What Cheer Tool Co. marking shown elsewhere in my pics appeared as well. It's unknown whether the company manufactured these lamps or if they were private label marks on lamps from another manufacturer. The company ceased operations and went out of business in 1926.)

Thompson & Walker Marking | THOMPSON & WALKER - Tin drivers lamp, 3 1/4 in. to top of lid, 1 5/8 in. base dia., 3 3/4 in. spout, rare marking THOMPSON & WALKER WHAT CHEER IOWA, rear opening lid, unfired, ex-Tony Moon collection with W246 label on bottom (The first industrial development in What Cheer was driven by the needs of the coal mines. In 1890, What Cheer was home to three firms making mining drills. One of these firms, Thompson & Walker, reorganized in the late 1890s and was renamed the What Cheer Drill and Miner’s Tool Co. with Alexander Walker as president. Walker was a prolific inventor holding 17 patents for coal mining tools including one for a combined fuse cutter and splitter, most of which were assigned to the company. Within the decade, the What Cheer Drill and Miners' Tool Company was selling equipment in mining districts around the nation. Somewhat later, the company’s name was shortened to the What Cheer Tool Co. Sometime during this time period, the company included a very hard to find oilwick lamp marked Thompson and Walker as shown here in its product line. Additional wick lamps with the What Cheer Tool Co. marking shown elsewhere in my pics appeared as well. It's unknown whether the company manufactured these lamps or if they were private label marks on lamps from another manufacturer. The company ceased operations and went out of business in 1926.)

Original Image

Total images: 770 | Last update: 3/30/24 6:41 PM | Help