Canadian Airplane Lamps

Canadian Airplane lamps are styled after one of the worlds best airplane designs – The Douglas DC-3. They were usually mounted on the top of floor ashstands and side tables. A much smaller number were sold as table top/desk models. There were five different airplane castings in brass, chrome or silver-wash like finishes. They were marked or labelled “Metalcraft”, “Florentine”, “Tuscan”, “Thaus Lamp”, or “Electrolite”. They came with six different propeller styles. All were made in Canada from at least 1945 (and possibly as early as the late 1930s) through the mid 1950s. Cast in Ontario and Quebec from varying qualities of pot metal, they could be fragile.

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Collectable Art Deco Airplane Tabletop Lamp from mid 1940's to mid 1950's

Art Deco Metalcraft Airplane Tabletop Lamp

Florentine Airplane Lamp

Antique Tuscan Airplane Lamp

Thaus Tabletop Airplane Lamp

Antique Electrolite Airplane Lamp

Canadian made Airplane Lamp from the 1940's - mid 1950's

Metalcraft Airplane Tabletop Lamp

Florentine Airplane Tabletop Lamp

Antique Tuscan Airplane Tabletop Lamp

Decal from under wing of vintage tabletop airplane lamp

Metalcraft Airplane Lamp Decal

Florentine Airplane Lamp Decal/Stamp

Antique Tuscan Airplane Lamp Decal

Thaus Airplane Lamp Decal

Electrolite Airplane Tabletop Lamp

From the late 1970s into the 21st century aluminium versions from an early mold (“patent pending” – Metalcraft) were cast in small runs from Vancouver, B.C.. In the mid 1980s similar pot metal airplane lamps with elaborate stands were cast in Southern California, (Dereco).

Bespoke or custom restored version with acrylic disc props and original parts assemblages have also been built.

Bespoke Custom Airplane Tray Table Floor Lamp

Bespoke Airplane Custom Tabletop Lamp

Bespoke Airplane Table Lamp

After W.W.II “Florentine” made an “Air Sea Rescue Launch” table lamp patterned after the British Power Boat Co. Type Two (HSL) whaleback. Mainly brass plated, there were scarce chrome versions.

Antique boat Lamp modelled after the British Power Boat Co. Type Two (HSL) Whaleback

Antique W.W.II Air Sea Rescue Launch Table Lamp

Table Lamp modelled after the British Power Boat Co. Type Two (HSL) Whaleback

W.W.II Air Sea Rescue Launch Table Lamp

W.W.II Air Sea Rescue Launch Table Lamp

JOB DESCRIPTION: Rescue downed pilots night and day from the North Sea and English Channel in a 60 ft. plywood boat with 1500 Horse Power carrying thousands of gallons of gas while people in planes and boats shoot at you.

REFERENCES:

RAF Air Sea Resue Service – Pen & Sword Books. Ditchburn Boats – Boston Mills Press

Airplane Lamp Adverts from the 1940’s and 1950’s

Vintage advert for Airplane Lamp Floor Stand

Vintage Eatons advert for Airplane Lamp Floor Stand

Vintage advert for Airplane Lamp Floor Stand

Vintage Eaton’s advert for Airplane Lamp Floor StandVintage Eatons advertisement for Airplane Lamp floor stand and ashtray stands from 1949

Vintage Eaton’s advert for Airplane Lamp Floor Stand

Vintage Simpsons advertisement for airplane lamps and other gifts from 1950

Vintage advert for Airplane Lamp Floor Stand

Misc. Information

Vintage airplane lamp living west magazine advertisement

Rare airplane lamp newspaper article 1999

Most of the Canadian light-up plane manufacturers have a cast-in starboard entrance.

Russian DC3 with starboard entrance.

1990’s Ontario poster

Airplane lamp bannett jackson auction results

Collectable Airplane lamp floor stand with ashtrays

R/M Sotheby Auctions Dingman Collection 2018. Pair sold for $3720 US.

Maine Antique Digest - Auction Results 2011

Light up hood ornament with custom windspun propellers on an early 50’s Chev Pickup. Great !! (photo by Keswick Pinhead)

Vintage Airplane Lamp

Metalcraft casting with a lot of extra grooves, speed lines, nose circles and a starboard entrance.

Dereco catalog mid-1980’s

Factory Stock Airplane Lamps 1940’s to 1950’s

Vintage Airplane Short Table Lamp

Metal base cover (Tuscan)

Vintage Airplane Lamp from the 1940's and 50's

Vintage Airplane Table Lamp

Glass base cover

Early 1940’s (?) Canadian Donation Bank with lighted & swivelling Florentine plane. Imprinted “KEEP THE TORCH BURNING”

Thau’s one piece base and three blade tin props.

Late 1945 Florentine with onyx base cover.

Vintage Airplane Floor Stand Lamp Lamp from the 1940’s to 1950’s

Stock, but complete rechrome

Airplane-lamp-floor-model-02

14″ two tier outside edge spun tray with plywood tray stiffener.

Florentine Deluxe

Florentine Standard

14″ three tier outside edge spun tray.

21

15″ spun three speedline inside edge tray.

Patagoonian Airforce 1977

Tuscan

Electrolite

Metalcraft

08

Thaus

Florentine

Metalcraft

10

Tuscan

14

A Theory of Evolution

The evolution of the Canadian Airplane lamp

Martin M130 China Clipper nose on the …………………..

………. Douglas DC3 body with added speed and flap lines becomes ….

…………. K&O airplane book ends circa 1938

K&O logo Kronheim & Oldenbusch Company circa 1895 – 1939 closed

K&O airplane book end circa 1938 New York, USA.

Early 1940’s (?) Canadian Donation Bank with lighted & swivelling Florentine plane. Imprinted “KEEP THE TORCH BURNING”

Late 1945 Florentine airplane

Custom Restoration Airplane Lamps

Desk & Table Models

“Not the best but the last”

Slotted windshield

Vintage airplane lamp

Canadian 50’s fireplace tool set base

Vintage airplane lamp

airplane-lamp-short-09

Vintage airplane lamp

“MUTT” Metalcraft with hole in window for combined switch & socket. One early cast prop with large drive screw and later diecut prop with small drive screw.