I am the Genius of the Aladdin lamp

When someone sees an old brass oil lamp they immediately want to rub it three times to see if a genie will appear. Aladdin is a familiar story to children and parents alike. Real Aladdin lamps though have a different story.

Victor Johnson started a small company to make kerosene lamps. In 1909, he invented the Aladdin taking the name from the famous story. Through the early part of the century and the war years the Aladdin was a huge success. The lamp produced the equivalent light of 60 candles (60 watts), very handy during times of blackout and power shortages. Some would say they felt like Aladdin sneaking around the kasbahs and markets.

Johnson focused on innovation and the Aladdin evolved to a glass cylinder housing a kerosene-soaked wick attached to a brass base. As the wick was lit the light filled the cylinder and lit the space you wanted.

By 1949 the company took the name of its primary product and powered on with sales all over the world. Even with the advent of electricity for all, the Aladdin Lamp today is still regarded as the finest non-electric lamp in the world. The functionality of the lamp is regarded as ‘genius’ as very little fuel is needed to power the lamp.

An electric version was introduced but production stopped quickly as the kerosene version performed better and produced more light. A lamp so steeped in history also has a cult following as vintage Aladdin’s are collectors items. Several art deco inspired designs were produced in the early thirties. Now, chrome and aluminum are favored over the old brass base. The lamps still resemble the old design but are now classified desk, table and shelf lamps with different shades available in glass, parchment and cloth to create your own look. The Aladdin table lamp is highly desired as a centerpiece as there are no cables running over the table.

Today, the Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company produces dozens of lamps all with the same Aladdin cylindrical stem but given new functionality, style and are exceedingly safe.