Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation

History of fluorescent lighting in the United States

From the early days of lighting, no significant developments were realized for fluorescent technologies, known around 1880, until General Electric secured the patent rights to the bulb. At the 1939 New York World's Fair, the public got it's first glimpse of the fluorescent light and fixture and soon after, in about 1940, Louis Levy and Max Wittenberg formed the corporation that would become one of the three (3) largest in manufacturing the fluorescent light (or lamp) fixture in the world. In the 1950s, fluorescent lighting outsold incandescent lighting more than any other time in history and for over 70 years went virtually unchanged and is the most common form of lighting in industrial, office, retail, and home use on the planet until popularity of the LED light began in the late 1990s.

History

The corporation started with Louis Levy who first began his quest with technology by earning and saving money assembling radios when we was about 20 years old. When the idea of fluorescent lighting came to his attention he developed a friendship with Max Wittenberg and together, they started the Artcraft Fluorescent Lighting Corporation about 1940 with Mr. Wittenberg principally taking on the responsibilities of managing the business, sales, and accounting office and Mr. Levy managing the manufacturing, fixture development, and production department. This was very new to most businesses and professionals who were familiar with incandescent lighting and transitioning to this newer form of lighting was not easy at first.

As time elapsed, more and more places of business recognized the benefits of fluorescent lighting, brighter and less maintenance. The idea took hold. There were over 200 employees at the factory and branch offices about 1959. Neon signs also were very popular and manufacturing began of those as demand impinged on society at the time. The company began selling more and more fixtures in the New York City area that they eventually opened showroom offices on Bleeker Street in Manhattan, and then in Washington, DC and Philadelphia, PA about 1947 and began making and selling display cases and electric fans. Some notable clients were the original Macy New York department store and the United States Navy just to name a couple. Sales and manufacturing skyrocketed by the mid 1950s east of the Mississippi, and many other companies were beginning to make fixtures to supply the evergrowing world-wide marketplace. Max Wittenberg passed away in the late 1950s and Mr. Levy continued operations with a new partner until about 1968 when he sold the corporation. They remain in existence today in Brooklyn, NY.

Success of an industry

Since it's inception, the corporation grew over time and was at it's prime, the pinnacle, in 1952. Maintaining a "AAA" Dunn and Bradstreet rating was not a simple task back then, and the corporation had that rating for many years, analogous to a 5A, ER3, 1 rating today. Many businesses found success in manufacturing fluorescent light fixtures as they gained popularity in the 1950s and have maintained success in the current business environment. The three (3) 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, all originating from New York City.

Influence around the world

As most people know, this style of lighting has remained unchanged for over 70 years. Go into any factory, any store, any office building, and look up. They are everywhere. Yet with the advent of newer technologies and especially energy conservation, the 'going green' wave taking place today in 2011, the LED light is becoming ever more popular in these establishments and transition to these and other technologies will take many more years.

Past Officers

• 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
• Daniel Zaslowsky -- Legal Officer

Previous location(s) and operations

• Brooklyn, NY (original factory)

-- New York, NY, Manhattan (showroom)

-- Philadelphia, PA (showroom & sales office)

-- Washington, DC (showroom & sales office)

References

Copyright: Industrial Directory of New York State, vol. 3468, 1949ed, 1953ed, pp. 638, 684 {{citation}}: Check date values in: |year= and |date= (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link) CS1 maint: year (link)

"1939 New York World's Fair". Themes and Zones. Retrieved March 29 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)

"United States Library of Congress", Reference Collection, archives of New York City corporations, Washington, DC, April 1997

Luger, Bernard (May 1995), "Documenting a corporation", Sillman family private collection, 1: 2 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)

Zaslowsky, Daniel (May 1995), "An era a long time ago", Sillman family private collection, 2: 3 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)

Levy, Paul (October 1972), "Early industry leaders in New York City", Sillman family private collection, 3: 4 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)

Sillman, Suzanne (August 1996), "An employee's perspective", Sillman family private collection, 4: 5 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)

Sillman, Richard (January 2011), "A retrospective look back", Sillman family private collection, 5: 6 {{citation}}: More than one of |author= and |last= specified (help)CS1 maint: date and year (link)