AC Rehberger Boeing/United B-247 Desk Lamp

A number of "metal arts" companies produced amazing Art Deco models throughout the 1930's. One of the most respected was the AC Rehberger Company located in Chicago. They were known for small scale cast metal buildings and general art statures. One area where they excelled was cast metal aviation models spawned from a relationship with United Airlines (also in Chicago) when it was owned by Boeing Aircraft and before an anti-trust suit broke the companies apart. In the early 1930's they produced excellent ashtray models in two sizes and desk lamps in three sizes. This example represents one of the larger samples. These were all for sale in the Travel and Transportation Pavilion and the 1933 Chicago World's Fair and proved to be a popular memento after patrons exited the hourly tours through a full-scale Boeing B-247 Airliner. Rehberger did use an inexpensive "German Silvering" on these models and lamps to leave a chrome-like appearance but that surfacing would fade within five years leaving the metal exposed to the elements and in many cases lead to metal degradation. To assure this lamp would not have to succumb to any failures in "metal rot", it was fully restored and electrically updated for safe usage. If you are interested is similar vintage models from the golden age of aviation, look us up AVIATION MODEL ARTIFACTS on Facebook.