Mark Stevens discusses the history and varieties of collectible 1950s TV (television) lamps. Based in Fort Worth, Mark can be reached via his website, Texans Incorporated, which is a member of our Hall of Fame.
I’ve always had an interest in the tackier artifacts of the 1950s and ’60s. The cheesy stuff, the kitsch. Old B movies, monster and sci-fi movies, the stuff you can poke fun at a little bit. When I was growing up, we didn’t have TV lamps around our house. But there was a book called “Turned On: Decorative Lamps of the 50s” written by Leland and Crystal Payton in 1989, about different kinds of lamps from the 1950s. There were so many in that book that were really tacky. I just remember looking at the lamps in the book and thinking how interesting and crazy they were.
I was intrigued by the whole phenomenon of TV lamps, these odd and cool looking lamps. They run the gamut from really ugly to really attractive. There are figurines styled to look like roosters, panthers, horses, deer, people, plant life, usually ceramic or made of plaster, but most were pottery. I was just fascinated by them and started doing research.
The general consensus was that the concept behind TV lamps was to keep a person from damaging their eyes from watching too much TV. That the lamp would diffuse the light a little bit and keep people from going blind or whatever they thought would happen. A TV lamp doesn’t have a shade like a normal lamp, there’s a bulb behind it so it creates a silhouette of whatever the lamp itself is and it’s casting light on the wall behind the TV, so it’s kind of a mood lighting sort of feeling.
There were so many TV lamps made. I got looking for them in different places and soon realized there were thousands of different TV lamp designs. They were made by at least 100 manufacturers, probably many more. They were amazingly popular. I started acquiring the lamps as I found them and it just kept growing, now I have somewhere around 300 to 350 lamps. They were originally a dime store item, costing about 5 or 6 to 10 dollars. Today the more common TV lamp is worth around 50 to 75 dollars but there are some that are worth hundreds to thousands of dollars.
Collectors Weekly: What was the most popular TV lamp design?
Stevens: The panther, by far. And of those, the most popular was a long sleek design of a stalking panther, that looks like it’s crouching low and sneaking up on its prey. I have a theory as to why those were the most popular. In the 1950s there was a good deal of interest in anything that had a touch of the exotic. Part of this had to do with an influence from soldiers coming back from World War II. So in the 1950s you have people all of a sudden interested in Oriental, Africa, Polynesian, and French motifs, basically anything that represented a foreign culture became very popular. A panther kind of fit in with all that, an exotic animal from a foreign land.
Collectors Weekly: How many people collect TV lamps?
Trotting Horse
Stevens: There’s a lot of collectors. I know, because of my three websites, I get a lot of emails. Over time TV lamps have grown in popularity. I think people probably started collecting TV lamps in the 1980s. In fact, that book I mentioned, I’ve always credited it with inspiring a lot of people to pay attention to those lamps. I don’t think I was the only person it inspired. I’d say there was pretty much no interest in TV lamps at all in the 1970s.
TV lamps were exclusively a North American phenomenon, U.S. and Canada, as far as the sale of them, and there are collectors only in the U.S. There were a small number made in Japan but nothing like what was happening over here.
Collectors Weekly: How did you get interested in this one specific TV lamp manufacturer, Texans Incorporated?
Stevens: As I collected TV lamps I discovered an interest in historical research that I didn’t really know was in me. I got really curious about the different companies that made the lamps. Many of them are marked by the manufacturer and in most cases it’s a company you’ve never heard of. A number of the lamps had a marking on them that said Kron and no one knew what that meant. Occasionally one of those lamps would also have a stamp on the bottom that said Texans Inc. Bangs, Texas. That struck me as odd, I was so far from believing that a large pottery would have existed that made TV lamps in Texas that it blinded me to the obvious.
In the 1950s, there was a good deal of interest in anything that had a touch of the exotic.
A pottery is a big production, if there is a pottery in your town, you know it. I was born in Fort Worth and lived here my whole life and never heard of Bangs, Texas. So one day my wife and I decided to drive to Bangs, Texas and see what’s there. Right before we got into Bangs, which is a very tiny community, we went through Brownwood and saw an antique shop. So we pulled in to check it out and before we left, I asked the woman who worked there about the TV lamps that say Bangs, Texas. She said they were made right down the highway and that she used to work there.
She told us that Howard Kron was the designer, but that the other designer who worked with him, Richard Gunter, was still around and lived near Dallas, and she gave me his phone number. She told me to go talk to David Cole first who lives in Bangs, so we went to David’s house and he has an amazing collection of lamps made at the plant.
Swordfish
It’s hard to explain what a shock this was, this was all stuff that the pottery collecting world had no knowledge of, and there’s a lot of people who collect pottery of all types and vintage lamps, and none of them had a clue. Then David takes me down to the front yard and points to a big brown building down the street and tells me that’s the Texans Incorporated factory. He gave me a wealth of information and we have become great friends and then he and I started organizing these annual reunions. Before the first reunion I wrote a book about the company called Pedlar of Dreams. It was actually more about Howard Kron than the company itself.
The Bangs community is so small, which is amazing, because the company was a huge facility. The community pulled together and created this lamp factory because they needed a place for the farmers to work during the drought in the early 1950s. So the whole town worked there or knew someone who worked there. I think they were pleased that someone was taking an interest in their company, they have a lot of pride about it.
Collectors Weekly: Is the factory still standing?
Stevens: Yes it is. That was another thing, I was jumping onto the company’s story in the nick of time. In 1982 Texans Incorporated sold out to an individual pottery called Challenger Lighting and after that it became American Quality Ceramics, which did some work for those companies that do the limited edition plates. They ended up shutting down production in the 1990s, and the place was shut down for good. It just sat dormant for several years. One gentleman was the care taker and kept it clean and standing. The day of the first reunion we had out there, he told me they were fixing to sell the plant and clear it all out. So David Cole, Richard Gunter, and I went to see the factory and got to go through it and look at everything. It was a huge learning experience. The building ended up being sold to the Bangs school district and now it’s used as a maintenance facility and a school bus warehouse. That was my first and only opportunity to go in, because that guy at the first reunion was the only one who had access to it.
Collectors Weekly: Did you interview some of the employees?
Stevens: Yes, I’ve interviewed lots of them. The place opened in 1952 and closed in 1982 so a lot of them aren’t with us anymore. But I’ve probably interviewed 30 or more, some at greater lengths than others. Like Pete Heeds and his wife Evangeline, who was the bookkeeper for the company. Her husband Pete started a few years after her and became the production manager. Lanny Sikes was one of the original founders, and he was one of the people who came up with the idea for the factory and had a lot to do with its construction and financing. He was the last of the founders and I got to talk to him on several occasions.
Collectors Weekly: What are some of the most interesting things you learned?
Stevens: The most shocking thing about the company in general was that it was even there to begin with. That a town of 2600 people could possibly support such an enormous company that sold lamps all over the world. That to me was staggering.
Siamese cats – best selling lamp
TV lamps were actually only a small part of their production. They didn’t even restrict themselves just to lamps, they also made ashtrays, dishes, trays, but they called themselves a lamp company. The majority of their production was traditional table lamps. But with the TV Lamps, though a small percentage of what they made, they came out with new designs every year, they weren’t just putting out the same designs over and over. That’s why there’s so many different designs from them.
The design they sold the most outrageous numbers of is the TV lamp with a Siamese cat with her Siamese kitten. One year they sold over 30,000 of those designs. Siamese cats were very popular in the 50s, that exotic theme again. Another pottery that produced them was Van Nuys based Lane and Company, but there is no data about them at all. They made an insane amount of lamps and nobody knows when they were founded, who owned the company, no one’s every talked to anyone who’s ever worked there, it’s been in the twilight zone. If I had two months to spend in Van Nuys I would dig and get the truth.
Collectors Weekly: How did you do most of your research on Texans Incorporated?
Stevens: There was no information anywhere except in Bangs itself. Once I started poking my nose around, I started finding out stuff by talking to people and that would result in getting a hold of old newspaper articles about the plant. From a historical perspective, archiving these clippings is probably one of the bigger contributions of the Texans Incorporated website. I scan the articles and post them, and recently, David even came across a bunch of newspaper clippings that no one had ever seen before, basically a step by step history of the company. There’s an article done in July of 1951, a year before the plant opened, announcing that they’re going to built it. There’s one when its nearing completion, and one with the open house, and the fire… they all add pieces to the puzzle. There’s still a lot of details we’re not clear on and maybe won’t ever be. But new things always come to life, so as time goes by I’ve been able to paint a fuller picture of the history of the company.
Collectors Weekly: What resources would you recommend for other lamp collectors and researchers?
Stevens: The book I mentioned earlier, Turned On: Decorative Lamps of the 50s by Leland and Crystal Payton, has been out of print for years but can be found on eBay. Other TV Lamp books are, 50s TV Lamps by Calvin Shepherd, and one called TV Lamps: Identification and Value Guide by Tom Santiso. Both those books were written in 1998 or 99 and there is one other book that is newer called TV Lamps to Light the World by John A. Shuman.
Collectors Weekly: Where do you find new TV lamps to add to your collection?
Flying mallard
Stevens: With the number of lamps I have now, I’m not seeking them as aggressively, but I do watch eBay on a regular basis and my wife and I love to go antiquing so sometimes I find them in antique shops and flea markets. As far as volume, eBay is the place to go. eBay has made the whole world a lot smaller because someone somewhere is posting the lamp you’re looking for on eBay. It’s also had an effect on the pricing because all of a sudden a treasured lamp is seen by a lot more people so that tends to make the price rise. But a TV lamp that is very common, when you see how many of them are on eBay, the price drops to nothing. Right now, if you want to make a profit selling a TV lamp on eBay, it better be something pretty out of the ordinary.
Collectors Weekly: Anything else you’d like to mention?
Stevens: Just that David Cole has been an inspiration to a lot of what I do. He’s 150 miles away but he’s a good friend and an enthusiastic historian, so he helps me out a lot. And, Richard Gunter is one of the people who started at Texans Incorporated when he was quite young, so he’s still with us and sharp as a tack and he has helped enormously. They’ve both helped me learn a lot and it keeps going… I’ve created a little fraternity of friends and enthusiasts throughout the country. It’s my little contribution to preserving American property.
(All images courtesy Mark Stevens of Texans Incorporated)
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An extremely interesting article. I am aquainted with Mark Stevens and have watched his passion for tv lamps grow. After he traveled to Bangs, Texas his interest exploded into a driving force. I am pleased to see he is receiving the recognition he so richly deserves.
Mark does deserve all the recognition a collector can give. Also restoring the history of a Texas Pottery Company and all the wonder people who made it possible. Great article! Also Mark and his wife Sherrie are the nicest people and love to share their knowledge of this bit of history.
This was a very interesting and excellent article. I have only recently “met” Mark Stevens through e-mails and phone conversation to discuss our similar interest in another collectible, antique telephones. Mark is very knowledgeable on a variety of subjects and really does his homework! His energy and enthusiasm is contagious, not only with respect to TV Lamps, but with various interests. It’s obvious that preserving and sharing bits of American culture with others is very important to him. Thanks Mark and thank you Collectors Weekly for a great article!
I just bought a Copr. Fuhry & Sons Inc tv lamp that looks like a Chinese junkeet boat with a woman on left side, man on right, black in color with shiney gold highlights, boat black in color. Can anyone tell me anything ahout this TV lamp? I know it was made in Cleveland OH in the 1950s”
I just purchased an A. N. Brooks Ltd. lamp. the one with the 3 little Cocker Spaniels sitting on the top, brown and fuzzy looking on the outside. 3 vents on the front and each side. I have tried to find some information on this, especially the date it was made what are their eyes made of and any other facts i can. Inside it has the Brooks name, Chicago, Model #3000 and Pat.Pend. I would be very greatful if anyone could help with information.
I have a black panther lamp from around the 1950s I am guessing. I would like to find out more about it.
Black Panther 20″ long 9″ tall, painted collar in gold, red, green, yellow
Emeral green cut class eyes
4 gold teeth
Gold painted claws
Base is Wood 22″X 7.5″X 2″
Has 2 lamps messuring 20″ tall with an rectangle shade
In the 50’s my grandmother had a TV lamp that always fascinated me. It was a sleek black panther base with a green tiered Venetian shade. Have you seen any of this type of lamp lately. Any info would be appreciated.
I have a pottery, Cinderalla style stage coach T V Lamp. It’s glossy black,with 24 K Gold trim. No maker signed on it, just old tape, dated 1954. Any Information appreciated. It’s excellent!
I have a 1950’s table lamp. It is a black Oriental boat trimmed in gold. It has an Oriental female sitting at the front and an Oriental male sitting at the back. They are white with red gloves and red wide brimmed hats and their clothing is trimmed in gold. It has a shade made out of red tiered Venetian blind metal. One each side of the pole of the base are two little open compartments. All I know is it was purchased at Kress’s Dept. store in Tulsa, OK around 1959. The old tape with any information is gone. There is just a glue spot where it used to be.
Any info will be appreciated. It is in prefect condition.
I have a piece from my aunt. It is a yellow oriental junket boat, timmed in gold. On both sides of it is a lady and a man sitting down. They are in cream color with red hats and pants, also trimmed in gold. I know it is a Copr.Fuhry and Sons, Inc. Does anyone know the value of this piece and the exact year it was made.
I have been collecting t.v.lamps for some twenty years, and enjoyed every moment! I own about seventy lamps. I’ve just reached 89 years, and I think it best to start parting with them! I would appreciate any information as to the best way to do this. Thanks in advance. sidney
I have a pottery, Cinderalla style stage coach T V Lamp. It’s glossy white,with Gold trim. Maker signed on it (sign Pat Pend) Any Information appreciated. It’s excellent!
I have a Lane TV lamp, boy riding a dolphin, dolphin is black and white, boy is painted looking almost nude, waves are green of course, pristine, no chips or nicks, and it works perfectly. It belonged to my aunt and I have been fascinated with it my whole life, is this something that should be insured and if so for how much?
Being a collector of soda pop and oil company, plus Moon and Stars glassware, I have became interested in 1950s T>V> Lamps. Twwo of my recent finds I cannot find any information on. Maybe you could identify. One is an art deco type of a beautiful blond headed woman in a light green gown, she is holding the gown in each of her hands above her head. It is approx. 13 inches tall, The other is a dog, probably a yellow Lab, standing on a wooden base. Behing the dog are two screens that offset each other. Any help would be appreciated. Joe C.
I recently purchase a vintage TV Lamp in the shape of a cornucopia. It is a mottled cream color on a dark brown base. It has a high gloss glaze. I was wondering if anyone knows the manufacturer of this lamp. Thanks.
Hi! My husband has the same panther lamp that you have pictured above. Can you tell me more about it? It is the exact one. He has said it was old and was passed down by his grandfather.
I recently purchased a tv lamp that is in the shape of a schooner type boat with metal sails. It is blue in color. When you first look at it…it appears to look just like some carinval glass that I have seen in the past. Can you tell me who made this and what year? Thanks
I am looking to purchase a 1950’s style black panther tv lamp with a red venetian blind type of lamp shade. I remember my Mom had one when I was a little kid. Any help in directing me to the right web site would be much appreciated. sasinakron@mail.com
this lamp belong to my grandmother. she died in the 50’s i think. this was in her home.
it’s a white lamp with burgandy around a picture on George Washington dancing with a lady outside. i’m trying to find out any info i can. Thank You
the lamp as well has a gold colred base made of lead maybe and trimed in gold.
I have the siamese cat lamp above that Igot from my great grandma when she passed away can you tell me how much it is worth and a little more about it.
Have a black panther lamp with light in back of middle , Sister-n-Law got it at seventeen years old, she was born in 1913 so would have made it around 1930 when she got it. Was made of white ceramic not the brown clay look. High black gloss, red eyes, has a particle label which I can not read well. Cord is one that came with it, it is white. If any one has information on it please contact me.
I have akron black poodle & pug lamp. Ihave had it myself for over thirty years, its in great shape & still works. wondering where or how to have it appraised.
TV LAMP RETRO 1950’S MYSTERIOUS SWAMI LADY
ANY idea where I can find one? Or HOW to look? I was watching on ebay and lost track of time. darn.
really want as gift for dear friend.
thanks
Bobbi
480 309 5515
I have a yellow panther TV lamp from the 50’s and was curious as to it’s value.
I have a brown panther tv lamp that is in excellent condition, can you please tell me what it is worth
I have a Kron Swordfish TV Lamp that supposedly was one of the first versions. What would this be worth? It has a few small chips and the felt on the bottom is worn. It works.
I have a large table lamp which is marble from Italy. It is a child leaning around a tree branch with a large globe. Any idea on the value of an item like this. It was given to me by my husbands grandmother from italy.
I have a chinese boat lamp it has windows on it and a man or woman sitting on each side they are dressed in white and red with red hats sitting with legs crossed. The boat is black i think it might have some gold trim.This is a lamp the light bulb goes in underneath and it works its made in 1950 by cory furry sons INC in 1950 I have never seen one of these so any information i would appericate.If there is any way i could send a pitcure i would thank you.
I have a lamp my great-grandmother gave me she got it in an auction when she was 16 she is now 98 I wanted to c what it’s worth it is a black horse with a red mettle shade
I have an Orange & Black Tiger TV Lamp made by Lane & Co, LA Calif is engraved into the base. I can’t find a picture of it anywhere. Have you seen this Lamp?
I have a black ceramic horse on its back legs, with a red ventian metal blind type shape with a pull on -off pull cord. my mother ( 83) won it through avon many many years ago. I am trying to find out anything I can .
thank you
Char
i have that rare black panther that you have picture at the top of the this page . i was wondering how much it is worth , it belong to my late father -n-law , it is in very good condition i was also trying to find out about a horse lamp made by lane &co 1957 black &white with a black base , i also like to find out how much it is worth i bought it at a yard sale for $ 3.00 about 5 years ago thank you lorrie
i found a lamp similar to your black panther pictured at the top of this page; however, the one i found is white. how much is something like that worth?
i have a 1950s siamese cat television light. its missing the cord, but its excellent otherwise. i wanted to know the value.its the one with one cat standing the other lying next to it.
I have a black panther lamp from Lane & Company in Vannuys Calif. 1959 this is on the bottom. I was looking at ebay and have not found anything exactly like it. I remember the eyes light up with green stones in it. I think it was a lamp, it has a small whole in the stomach. How can I find out more? It was from my grandmother and means so much to me.
I have a Krons White poodle and pug tv lamp. Do you know the value of it? It has no chips or breaks. It does not have the collar and the felt on the bottom is torn but still intact. The marking is the B edition so it was made in Bangs Texas around 1971.
I recently purchased a crouching panther tv lamp. It differs from all that Ive seen, it is an avocaado green kind of on the dark side with original cord and socket. No markings, wanting to know more on it, any info would be appreciated.
Respectfully,
Sam
Came across this wonderful African or Polynesian woman’s bust with exotic leaves behind her head at an auction. I actually found one in a different color pottery on tvlamps.net but am trying to find out more about it. I have searched and searched and am guessing she is pretty rare. How do I go about it since the felt and sticker have been removed ? I’d really, really like to know more.
I have my mothers TV lamp it is an Orential boat with a male and female on each end sitting. Boat is light green with gold trim. Asians are white with red pants yellow shoes red dot on the back of the hat. Shirt is dark green and white. the is info along with a # on the bottom. I can’t read it but I will try to give it the best I can. 1954.SS ????? well I tried and there is something below that as well. I just can’t make it out. Please help.
Thank you so much for researching and posting this info. I have a beloved siamese cat lamp that was always used as a night light in my great grandmothers spare bedroom. It scared the crap out of me as a kid with it’s glowing eyes in the middle of the night. Before she passed away she let me have it and I have always treasured it. I never knew the history behind it and always wished I would have asked her where and when she purchased it. She was from Texas and I can picture her purchasing it for $1.95 taking it to all the states she lived in afterwards – New Mexico, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri and Kansas. One day when I have grandchildren and great grandchildren of my own, I hope to pass on the memory of scary glowing eyes in the middle of the night. Thank you for shedding light on one of my most prized possessions!
Hi, I have 2 Black Panther lamps, one I’ve had since I was a little girl and one just like it I found at a sale. Being younger then, the Red 5 tier venetian shade broke and was thrown out by my mother, I probably broke it as I loved to collapse it. Is there anywhere to get shades to go on the lamps nowadays? All the ones I’ve seen go with lamps already or are to long.
I have a swan planter tv light can you tell me anything about it
I have about 600 to 700 TV lamps in all shapes and sizes. Every thing from Space Men to Bull Fighter and every thing in between. I wish I had a place to display them all. They are so interesting to look at. But most are boxed away, and that is such a shame. I wish I could open a TV Lamp museum, so more people could see them. And learn to love them for an important part of our past. Because in the late 40’s to late 60’s every one thought it would cause you to go blind to watch TV without one.
I have a black panther glass or marble on a stand looks original to the one on here with white spots on stand wondering asking for information I got it from my great grandmother it in perfect condition I take good care of it ?
For some unknown reason, the memory of all these lamps sitting on top of televisions struck me a few days ago. I was curious about their purpose. Decorative or practical. It did not occur to Me that it was due to the widespread belief that T.V. was harmful to the eyes. Then i remembered My Mother and other adults warning us not to sit to close to the television. It seemed that the Black Panther motif lamp was the most common in my area (Los Angeles) and adorned the majority of t.v’s belonging to family and friends. Thanks for the great article about an almost forgotten bit of history from the early days of television !
I have a Siamese Cat Lamp with her (2) kittens, 1 on each side of the mother. I’ve had it for years. Enjoyed your article.
I have a Rooster that is shaped like a Rooster that holds a pack of cigarettes and matches. It
green in color.
Can you tell me when it was fired, by whom and the v alue
Thank you in advance.
Cathy
I need Mark to get in touch with me regarding, the Pale Green Ass by Howard Kron, we spoke of back in 2005!