Accession Number

2024.009.001

Alternate Name

socket

Description

A brass Bergmann & Co. brand electric light bulb socket, the cylindrical brass exterior with Bakelite insert and brass sleeve inside, the sleeve threaded to receive a light bulb base. The switch on the side has been cast in the shape of a fan. Stamped into side of the exterior sleeve of the holder are the patent dates from Dec. 27, 1881 and each following year to 1885, and then Feb. 11, 1888. Also stamped on the sleeve vertically along the sleeve is the maker's mark, "Bergmann & Co. N.Y."

Narrative

The history of this object's use by the Dunsmuir family at Craigdarroch makes it an important artifact.  It contributes to the understanding of the technology and decorative elements found in the Castle when it functioned as a house. 

An informative description of the Bergmann & Co. electric lamp socket can be found here: 
https://www.urbanremainschicago.com/news-and-events/2014/12/04/a-closer-look-at-a-rare-bergmann-edison-19th-century-incandescent-electric-lamp-moving-tongue-socket/ (last accessed April 9, 2020)

Bergmann & Co. of New York was one of the preeminent manufactures of lighting apparatuses in the United States during the late 19th Century. Their 1883 catalogue can be viewed here: https://edisondigital.rutgers.edu/document/CA002C (last accessed December 3, 2024)

Their 1890 catalogue is attached to the associated record for this company.

History of Use

This light fixture component was manufactured in New York, NY during the late 1880s. In 1890, it was installed at an unknown location at Craigdarroch Castle. Sometime after 1908, it was removed and placed in the upper attic or possibly in a basement crawlspace of the Castle. In July of 1975 when Bruce Davies was hired as a guide for The Castle Society, he observed that this tube and a large quantity of other lighting fixture fragments were being stored in the drawers beneath the library bookcases.  Some light fixture fragments were being displayed inside a library bookcase with a label stating that the fragments had been found in the Castle's attic.  Davies was told by James K. Nesbitt that all of the light fixture fragments had been found in the attic or crawlspace.

On June 14 2006, former Craigdarroch Castle guide John Rogers was interviewed for the Craigdarroch Castle Society Oral History Project. He said this about the Society's collection of lighting components found in the Castle:

Rogers:  "It was really very memorable, and we did get a chance to not only interact with the tourists and with each other, but do some explorations.  And I remember the… of course there was always the interactions with the kids who used to come by, the neighbourhood kids, and visit.  There was a group of kids that wanted to do things and we got into this process of ‘well, let’s explore and see what is down in the basement in that crawl space area’, and oh dear, that was in the days when you never gave a consideration for asbestos or dust or whatever and it was very, very dusty.  But we found some great things.  I think they are in the display cases now, the cigarette cases – the old Player’s cigarette cartons, bits and pieces of the gas lighting, and I recall maybe even newspaper clippings.  I guess that was probably during, from what I recall, the time when it was a convalescent home, after the Dunsmuirs."

Davies:  "Where did you find the gas fixtures? The gas pieces?"

Rogers:  "There were two places.  There were little bits down in the basement but then there was also up in the attic, so we took the ladder up, the trap door in the ballroom, that’s where we found most of the old gaslight fixtures."

Davies:  "Where did you find gas shades?"

Rogers:  "I think it was there. I’m pretty sure it was all up in the attic there. I don’t know why.  It was kind of an odd place to find them but that’s where they were."

When the Astronomie lamp (991.020.001) was acquired by the Castle Society for installation on the main floor newel post, the socket was installed as a component part and remained in the lamp for more than 30 years. It was removed in November, 2024 for safety reasons.

Date

1881 – 1888

Material

Metal, brass; Plastic, bakelite; Ceramic

Technique

Bent; Cast; Machined; Fired

Inscription

MANUFACTURED BY BERGMANN & CO. N.Y.
(and various patent dates in the 1880's)

Country of Origin

United States of America