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{{Short description|American manufacturing company}}
{{Cleanup|date=April 2011}}

{{Infobox company
{{Infobox company
| name = Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation
|logo =
| type = [[private company|Private]]
| type = [[private company|Private]]
| industry = Lighting
| industry = Lighting
| foundation = 1939-1940
| foundation = 1940 - 2002 (62 years)
| founders = {{flatlist|
| location_city = Brooklyn, New York<small><br><small>Smaller Flag Icon{{flagicon|USA}}</noinclude>the U.S.
* Louis Levy
| area_served = United States, mostly east of the Mississippi
* Max Wittenberg
| key_people = Louis Levy, <small>President
}}
| locations = Manhattan, Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC
| products = Fluorescent fixtures, Neon Signs, Electric Fans
| fate = {{flatlist| * Dissolved in 2002
* original Corp. sold in 1968}}
| location = [[Brooklyn]], New York City, New York, United States
| area_served = United States (mostly east of the Mississippi)
| key_people = {{unbulleted list|Louis J. Levy|{{small|([[President (corporate title)|President]] and Co-Owner)}}}}{{unbulleted list|Max Wittenberg|{{small| Co-Owner - (1940 - 1953 approx.)}}}}{{unbulleted list|Harry Handler|{{small|Co-Owner - (1953 approx. - 1968 approx.)}}}}
| locations =
* New York, NY
* Philadelphia, PA
* Washington, DC
| products = Fluorescent Fixtures, Neon Signs, Electric Fans
| num_employees = {{increase}}200 approximately
| num_employees = {{increase}}200 approximately

| revenue = {{increase}}[[dollar|$]]50 million annually approximately(1995 terms)<ref name=Lugar95/>
| revenue = {{increase}}[[US]][[dollar|$]], $50 million annually - in 2008 dollars; inflation-adjusted
* In late 1940s-1950s,
$2 million a year [AAA Dun & Bradstreet rating]<ref>Dun & Bradstreet, Artcraft Fluorescent Corporation Financial Records 1945-1957, Library of Congress, Washington D.C., Retrieved September 2016</ref>
}}
}}


'''Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation'''<ref>Industrial Directory of New York State, 1949ed, 1953ed</ref> was one of the most influential forces in fluorescent lighting fixture development and production in the United States from the commercial introduction of the [[fluorescent lamp]] at the [[1939 New York World's Fair|1939 World's Fair]].
'''Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation'''<ref>Industrial Directory of New York State, 1949ed, 1953ed</ref> was an American mass manufacturer of fluorescent lighting fixtures from the time of the public introduction of the [[fluorescent lamp]] at the [[1939 New York World's Fair|1939 World's Fair]]. Artcraft was first to announce and start mass manufacturing of a liner showcase [[striplight]] fixture and slimline ballast in 1946.<ref>Electrical Consultant, Volume 50, Page 4, 1946 - Lighting, Volume 53 & 54, Page 174, 175, 1948</ref><ref>Westinghouse Engineer, Volume 12-13, Page 141, 1952</ref>


Fluorescent lighting was new to consumers, businesses, and professionals, who were familiar with [[incandescent]] lighting.<ref>John H. Campbell, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, The University of California, Berkeley, California, The History and Technical Evolution of High Frequency Lighting, pages 1-2, 1977</ref>
Louis Levy started the business from money earned by assembling [[radio]]s when he was about 20 years old. He was very intuitive.<ref name=Sillman96/> Louis Levy and Max Wittenberg started the Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation about 1940.<ref name=Lugar95>Bernard Lugar, CFO, Documenting a corporation, Sillman Family Private Collection, 1995</ref> Mr. Wittenberg managed the business, sales, and accounting office and Mr. Levy managed the manufacturing, fixture development, and production department. Fluorescent lighting was very new to consumers, businesses, and professionals, who were familiar with [[incandescent]] lighting. The transition to this newer form of lighting was not easy.


The benefits of fluorescent lighting were lower operating costs, more light for the same power input, and less maintenance.<ref>Mark Stanley Rea, PH.D. FIES, Editor-In-Chief, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, The Lighting Handbook and Reference, 1993</ref> The idea took hold.<ref>Arthur A. Bright and Rupert Maclaurin, Economic Factors Influencing The Development and Introduction of The Fluorescent Lamp, The Journal of Political Economy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [MIT], University of Chicago Press, 51, No.5, 1943, pp. 429-450</ref> The company had over 200 employees at the factory and branch offices. Starting about 1959,<ref name=Lugar95/> [[neon signs]] also were manufactured. The company began selling fixtures in the New York City area. They opened showroom offices in Manhattan, and then in Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA about 1947, and began making and selling display cases and electric fans. Some customers opted for being on the installment plan, which was a growing trend then.<ref name=Lugar95/> Sales and manufacturing skyrocketed by the mid 1950s east of the Mississippi, and many other companies were beginning to make fixtures. Max Wittenberg died in the late 1950s and Mr. Levy continued operations with a new partner until about 1968 when he sold the corporation. He was interested in going into the finance business.<ref name=Sillman96>Suzanne Sillman, An employee's perspective, Sillman Family Private Collection, 1996</ref> The company remained in existence until about 2002 in Brooklyn, NY.<ref>New York State, Division of Corporations, State Records</ref>
The benefits of fluorescent lighting were lower operating costs, more light for the same power input, and less maintenance.<ref>Mark Stanley Rea, PH.D. FIES, Editor-In-Chief, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, The Lighting Handbook and Reference, 1993</ref><ref>Arthur A. Bright and Rupert Maclaurin, Economic Factors Influencing The Development and Introduction of The Fluorescent Lamp, The Journal of Political Economy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [MIT], University of Chicago Press, 51, No.5, 1943, pp. 429-450</ref> The company remained in existence until about 2002 in Brooklyn, NY.<ref>New York State, Division of Corporations, State Records</ref>


The corporation grew over time and was at its pinnacle in 1952. Maintaining a "AAA" [[Dunn and Bradstreet]] rating was not a simple task back then. While overseeing Accounts Payable, Accounts Receivable, Payroll, Profit & Loss Statements, banking correspondence, extension of credit to customers together with two full time accountants and five to seven bookkeepers and support staff, among other duties, it was apparent the corporation was a profitable entity with Louis Levy and Max Wittenberg being the sole owners.<ref name=Lugar95/> Company stock offerings were becoming popular, and issuance began with the employees yet not on the major exchanges.<ref name=Sillman96/> Very few businesses had that credit rating for an extended duration, analogous to a 5A, ER3, 1 rating today.<ref name=Lugar95/> [[File:Seagram Building-NewYork-4.jpg|thumb]]The three major companies from the beginning were, Lightolier, the largest, purchased by Philips Electronics Group Brand recently, with approximately $500 million dollars in annual sales, followed by Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation, and Globe Lighting, originating from New York City<ref>Paul Levy, Early industry leaders in New York City, Sillman Family Private Collection, 1998.</ref>
The three top fluorescent fixture manufacturing companies from the beginning were, Lightolier [Blitzer family], the largest, a division of [[Royal Philips Electronics]], with approximately $500 million in annual sales, followed by Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation [Levy family], and Globe Lighting Products, Inc. [Waitzkin family], originating from New York City.<ref name="ReferenceA">Paul Levy, Early industry leaders in New York City, Sillman Family Private Collection, 1998</ref>


== Sources==
Past officers included: Louis Levy—President, a pioneer of the fluorescent light fixture, Max Wittenberg—Secretary and Treasurer, Jay Stern—Vice President, Bernard Lugar—CFO, Chief Financial Officer, William Fishkin—General Counsel.<ref>Daniel Zaslowsky, Esq., An era a long time ago, Sillman Family Private Collection, 1995</ref> Previous locations and operations were at Brooklyn, NY (original factory), New York, NY, Manhattan (showroom), Philadelphia, PA (showroom & sales office), and Washington, DC (showroom & sales office).<ref name=Lugar95/>

== References ==


{{Citation
{{Citation
| author-link = State of New York
| author-link = State of New York
| title = Industrial Directory of New York State
| title = Industrial Directory of New York State, 1949ed, 1953ed
| volume = 3468
| volume = 3468
| pages = 638, 684
| pages = 638, 684 }}
| date = 1949ed, 1953ed
{{Citation
| year = 1949, 1953 }}
| author-link = Artemide (Firm)
| title = Lighting - Interior Lighting- Artemide (Firm)
| volume = 63-64
| pages = 82
| year = 1953 }}
{{Citation
| author-link = Artemide (Firm)
| title = Lighting - Interior Lighting- Artemide (Firm)
| volume = 53-54
| pages = 175, 392
| year = 1948 }}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| author = Mark Stanley Rea, PH.D. FIES, Editor-In-Chief
| editor = Mark Stanley Rea
| title = Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, New York, Part IV Lighting Applications, Lighting Handbook Reference & Application
| title = Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, New York, Part IV Lighting Applications, Lighting Handbook Reference & Application
| pages = 517–749
| pages = 517–749
| year = c. 1993
| year = 8th Edition, 1993 c, previous editions published under title: IES lighting handbook, ISBN 0879951028 }}
| edition = 8th
| isbn = 0-87995-102-8 }} (previous editions published under title: IES lighting handbook)


{{Citation
{{Citation
| author-link = Electrical Consultant (original from: Cornell University - digitized, Feb 1, 2011)
| author = Michael Gort
| title = Electrical Consultant (original from Cornell University - digitized, Feb 1, 2011 - Print Advertisement) Lighting & Lamps
| title = Diversification and Integration in American Industry, A Study by The National Bureau of Economic Research, Published by Princeton University Press, Princeton
| volume = 1
| volume = 53
| volume = 49
| pages = 21
| pages = 116, 122
| year = 1948 }}

| year = 1962, ISBN 0313-32442-5 }}
{{Citation
| author-link = Electrical West (original from: McGraw-Hill Company of California., 1967)
| title = Electrical West (original from McGraw-Hill Company of California., 1967)
| volume = 134
| year = 1967}}

{{Citation
| author-link = CSA Super Markets - Volume 40 - Page 64 - 1964
| title = Chain Store Age - Super Markets
| volume = 40
| pages = 64
| year = 1964 }}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = United States Library of Congress
| title = United States Library of Congress
| periodical = Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Records (Science, Technology & Business Division), Industrial Directories, John Adams Building Collection, Located Off-site at Fort Meade, Manhattan & Bronx & Philadelphia, PA, 1945 Pg. 1481, Feb. 1st 1948, Feb. 1st 1950, Feb 1st 1951, Feb 1st 1952, Pg. 2371, Feb. 1st 1953, Feb. 1st 1954, Feb.1st 1955, Jan. 1st 1956, Jan. 1st 1957.
| periodical = Business Reference Desk Collection, archives of New York City corporations
| location = Washington, DC
| location = Washington, DC
| date = April 1997
| date = September 2016
| url = http://www.loc.gov/rr/business/brsgen1.html}}
| url = https://www.loc.gov/rr/business/brscoll.html#industrial}}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| author= Arthur A. Bright and Rupert Maclaurin
|author1=Arthur A. Bright |author2=Rupert Maclaurin
| title = Economic Factors Influencing The Development and Introduction of The Fluorescent Lamp, The Journal of Political Economy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [MIT], University of Chicago Press
|name-list-style=amp | title = Economic Factors Influencing The Development and Introduction of The Fluorescent Lamp, The Journal of Political Economy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [MIT], University of Chicago Press
| volume = 51, No.5
| volume = 51
| issue = 5
| pages = 429–450
| pages = 429–450
| year = 1943}}
| year = 1943}}
Line 65: Line 103:
| author= Arthur A. Bright, Jr.
| author= Arthur A. Bright, Jr.
| title = The electric-lamp industry: technological change and economic development from 1800 to 1947, New York, Macmillan Co.
| title = The electric-lamp industry: technological change and economic development from 1800 to 1947, New York, Macmillan Co.
| pages = 399–417
| year = 1949, ISBN 0405046901 }}
| year = 1949
| isbn = 0-405-04690-1 }}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| author-link = Moody's Investors Service, Incorporated, 1948
| last = Luger
| title = Moody's Dividend Record - Moody's Investors Service, Incorporated, 1948, Artcraft Fluorescent Corp., 7% partie, pfd
| first = Bernard
| author = Bernard Luger
| pages = 143
| title = Documenting a corporation
| year = 1948 }}
| journal = Sillman family private collection
| volume = 1
| pages = 2
| date = May 1995
}}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = Lighting the Way, Natural museum of American History, © 2015 Smithsonian Institution.
| last = Zaslowsky, Esq.
| url = http://americanhistory.si.edu/lightproject }}
| first = Daniel
| author= Daniel Zaslowsky
| title = An era a long time ago
| journal = Sillman family private collection
| volume = 2
| pages = 3
| date = May 1995
}}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = "Eat a Sloppy Joe at Currant Cafe Sunday While You Wait For Lit Brooklyn to Open", March 14, 2014 - Bedford and Bowery, © New York Magazine.
| last = Levy
| date = 14 March 2014 | url = http://bedfordandbowery.com/2014/03/eat-a-sloppy-joe-at-currant-cafe-this-sunday-while-you-wait-for-lit-brooklyn-to-open/ }}
| first = Paul
| author= Paul Levy
| title = Early industry leaders in New York City
| journal = Sillman family private collection
| volume = 3
| pages = 4
| date = October 1998
}}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = "© New York Times - Front Page, May 7, 2008" - Previous headquarters building of Artcraft Fluorescent Corp. featured for current new use of space of building."
| last = Sillman
|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 7 May 2008| url = https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/07/nyregion/07lofts.html?scp=1&sq=mckibbin&st=nyt |last1 = Buckley|first1 = Cara}}
| first = Suzanne
| author= Suzanne Sillman
| title = An employee's perspective
| journal = Sillman family private collection
| volume = 4
| pages = 5
| date = August 1996
}}

{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = "© New York Times, May 7, 2008, Front Page reprint"
| last = Sillman
| url = https://store.nytimes.com/products/new-york-times-front-page-reprint }}
| first = Richard
| author= Richard Sillman
| title = A retrospective look back
| journal = Sillman family private collection
| volume = 5
| pages = 6
| date = January 2011
}}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = "Slide-Show" - Related Article to © New York Times, May 7, 2008 - Previous headquarters building.
| description = Above video, from Eliot2000, Wikimedia Commons, a video showing a Semi-resonant start fluorescent lamp starting, etrieved, April 7, 2011, www.wikimedia.org}}
|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 8 May 2008| url = https://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2008/05/07/nyregion/20080507LOFTS_index.html?action=click&contentCollection=N.Y.%20%2F%20Region&module=RelatedCoverage&region=EndOfArticle&pgtype=article }}


== References ==
{{Citation
{{reflist|30em}}
| description = Above picture, Macy's, from Andy C, Wikimedia Commons, the Macy's sign on 34th Street illuminated at night, bove picture, Macy's, from Andy C, Wikimedia Commons, Retrieved, April 7, 2011, www.wikimedia.org }}

==External links==


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = "The Magic of Fluorescence", © 1945 short video film by General Electric Company, Nela Park, Ohio (how fluorescent bulbs are manufactured, located at time marker 10:27)
| description = Above picture, Seagram Building - New York - architects: Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, Above picture, Seagrams Building, from dandeluca, Wikimedia Commons, Retrieved, April 7, 2011, dated 2008-07-14,
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRp4qbISBoo }}
www.wikimedia.org}}


{{Citation
{{Citation
| title = "How It's Made : Fluorescent Tubes", © 2009, Discovery Channel
| title = Lighting the Way
| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-eynJd9y-U }}
| year = A project at the natural museum of American History, © 2007 Smithsonian Institution
| date = Natural museum of American History, © 2011 Smithsonian Institution and at http://americanhistory.si.edu/lighting/bios/photo1.htm
| url = http://americanhistory.si.edu/lightproject }}


{{Citation
== Lists ==
| title = "Tour of the Lightolier Manufacturing Plant", © Bob Vila, Action Media Inc. - Episode 8, Part 2
{{reflist}}
| date = 31 August 2011 | url = https://www.bobvila.com/sections/tv-shows/projects/21-accessible-home/episodes/244-installing-a-tankless-water-heater/videos/1111619563001-tour-of-the-lightolier-manufacturing-plant }}


[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Defunct companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies based in New York]]
[[Category:Privately held companies of the United States]]
[[Category:Lighting brands]]
[[Category:Lighting brands]]
[[Category:Companies established in 1940]]
[[Category:Manufacturing companies established in 1940]]
[[Category:1940 introductions]]
[[Category:1940 establishments in New York City]]
[[Category:Privately held companies based in New York City]]
[[Category:American companies established in 1940]]
[[Category:Defunct manufacturing companies based in New York City]]

Latest revision as of 09:16, 9 December 2023

Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation
Company typePrivate
IndustryLighting
Founded1940 - 2002 (62 years)
Founders
  • Louis Levy
  • Max Wittenberg
Fate
  • Dissolved in 2002
  • original Corp. sold in 1968
HeadquartersBrooklyn, New York City, New York, United States
Number of locations
  • New York, NY
  • Philadelphia, PA
  • Washington, DC
Area served
United States (mostly east of the Mississippi)
Key people
  • Max Wittenberg
  • Co-Owner - (1940 - 1953 approx.)
  • Harry Handler
  • Co-Owner - (1953 approx. - 1968 approx.)
ProductsFluorescent Fixtures, Neon Signs, Electric Fans
RevenueIncreaseUS$, $50 million annually - in 2008 dollars; inflation-adjusted
  • In late 1940s-1950s,
$2 million a year [AAA Dun & Bradstreet rating][1]
Number of employees
Increase200 approximately

Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation[2] was an American mass manufacturer of fluorescent lighting fixtures from the time of the public introduction of the fluorescent lamp at the 1939 World's Fair. Artcraft was first to announce and start mass manufacturing of a liner showcase striplight fixture and slimline ballast in 1946.[3][4]

Fluorescent lighting was new to consumers, businesses, and professionals, who were familiar with incandescent lighting.[5]

The benefits of fluorescent lighting were lower operating costs, more light for the same power input, and less maintenance.[6][7] The company remained in existence until about 2002 in Brooklyn, NY.[8]

The three top fluorescent fixture manufacturing companies from the beginning were, Lightolier [Blitzer family], the largest, a division of Royal Philips Electronics, with approximately $500 million in annual sales, followed by Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation [Levy family], and Globe Lighting Products, Inc. [Waitzkin family], originating from New York City.[9]

Sources

[edit]

Industrial Directory of New York State, 1949ed, 1953ed, vol. 3468, pp. 638, 684

Lighting - Interior Lighting- Artemide (Firm), vol. 63–64, 1953, p. 82

Lighting - Interior Lighting- Artemide (Firm), vol. 53–54, 1948, pp. 175, 392

Mark Stanley Rea, ed. (c. 1993), Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Illuminating Engineering Society of North America, New York, Part IV Lighting Applications, Lighting Handbook Reference & Application (8th ed.), pp. 517–749, ISBN 0-87995-102-8 (previous editions published under title: IES lighting handbook)

Electrical Consultant (original from Cornell University - digitized, Feb 1, 2011 - Print Advertisement) Lighting & Lamps, vol. 53, 1948, p. 21

Electrical West (original from McGraw-Hill Company of California., 1967), vol. 134, 1967

Chain Store Age - Super Markets, vol. 40, 1964, p. 64

"United States Library of Congress", Dun & Bradstreet Corporation Records (Science, Technology & Business Division), Industrial Directories, John Adams Building Collection, Located Off-site at Fort Meade, Manhattan & Bronx & Philadelphia, PA, 1945 Pg. 1481, Feb. 1st 1948, Feb. 1st 1950, Feb 1st 1951, Feb 1st 1952, Pg. 2371, Feb. 1st 1953, Feb. 1st 1954, Feb.1st 1955, Jan. 1st 1956, Jan. 1st 1957., Washington, DC, September 2016

Arthur A. Bright & Rupert Maclaurin (1943), Economic Factors Influencing The Development and Introduction of The Fluorescent Lamp, The Journal of Political Economy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [MIT], University of Chicago Press, vol. 51, pp. 429–450

Arthur A. Bright, Jr. (1949), The electric-lamp industry: technological change and economic development from 1800 to 1947, New York, Macmillan Co., pp. 399–417, ISBN 0-405-04690-1

Moody's Dividend Record - Moody's Investors Service, Incorporated, 1948, Artcraft Fluorescent Corp., 7% partie, pfd, 1948, p. 143

Lighting the Way, Natural museum of American History, © 2015 Smithsonian Institution.

"Eat a Sloppy Joe at Currant Cafe Sunday While You Wait For Lit Brooklyn to Open", March 14, 2014 - Bedford and Bowery, © New York Magazine., 14 March 2014

Buckley, Cara (7 May 2008), ""© New York Times - Front Page, May 7, 2008" - Previous headquarters building of Artcraft Fluorescent Corp. featured for current new use of space of building."", The New York Times

"© New York Times, May 7, 2008, Front Page reprint"

""Slide-Show" - Related Article to © New York Times, May 7, 2008 - Previous headquarters building.", The New York Times, 8 May 2008

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Dun & Bradstreet, Artcraft Fluorescent Corporation Financial Records 1945-1957, Library of Congress, Washington D.C., Retrieved September 2016
  2. ^ Industrial Directory of New York State, 1949ed, 1953ed
  3. ^ Electrical Consultant, Volume 50, Page 4, 1946 - Lighting, Volume 53 & 54, Page 174, 175, 1948
  4. ^ Westinghouse Engineer, Volume 12-13, Page 141, 1952
  5. ^ John H. Campbell, Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, The University of California, Berkeley, California, The History and Technical Evolution of High Frequency Lighting, pages 1-2, 1977
  6. ^ Mark Stanley Rea, PH.D. FIES, Editor-In-Chief, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, The Lighting Handbook and Reference, 1993
  7. ^ Arthur A. Bright and Rupert Maclaurin, Economic Factors Influencing The Development and Introduction of The Fluorescent Lamp, The Journal of Political Economy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, [MIT], University of Chicago Press, 51, No.5, 1943, pp. 429-450
  8. ^ New York State, Division of Corporations, State Records
  9. ^ Paul Levy, Early industry leaders in New York City, Sillman Family Private Collection, 1998
[edit]

"The Magic of Fluorescence", © 1945 short video film by General Electric Company, Nela Park, Ohio (how fluorescent bulbs are manufactured, located at time marker 10:27)

"How It's Made : Fluorescent Tubes", © 2009, Discovery Channel

"Tour of the Lightolier Manufacturing Plant", © Bob Vila, Action Media Inc. - Episode 8, Part 2, 31 August 2011

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