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Made in the U.S.A. by Aladdin Industries, Inc., a subsidiary of The Mantle Lamp Company of America, which began producing electric lamps and finials in 1930.
This Aladdin Alacite Buckle Finial is made from rich amber colored Alacite which catches the light to lend a distinctive touch of eye-catching elegance to the design. The breathtakingly beautiful qualities of the glass of this finial is showcased by backlight shining on it to create an opalescent light show. Of all the types of glass Aladdin used to produce its line of Electric and Kerosine Lamps, and Finials, I find the pre-war Alacite to be the most elegant and intriguing. The photos were taken in various lighting conditions to show the colors displayed by the glass as it catches the light around it.
This Aladdin Finial is made with Old Formula Alacite Glass. It was produced before World War II. Under the leadership of Henry Hellmers (Aladdin's glass superintendent from 1935-1942), this old-formula Alacite was made with red lead and uranium oxide, to achieve the consistent rich amber color that characterises these early pre-war lamps and finials. It glows yellow/green under black light (see photos).
(Henry T. Hellmers' Secret Batch Book of Glass Formulae Paperback – January 1, 2011
by J. W. Courter (Author)
Unique to a bye-gone era of American ingenuity which encompassed the desire and drive to produce an excellent American-made product, Aladdin lamps with their beautiful Finials literally brought light to the American family at an affordable price. Aladdin Industries/Mantle Lamp Company played a significant role in the electrification of America and the beautification of the American home.
The Atomic Energy Commission did not permit the use of uranium during or after the war, so the formula was changed. Alacite lamps and finials made after the war varied in color and will not glow when placed under ultraviolet light. While still beautiful, they were outshone by these old-formula-alacite lamps and finials