Ku Klux Klan Lamp.

By Alex in Everything Else on Dec 17, 2006 at 1:21 pm

There’s nothing funny about the KKK and the hateful things that they did, okay? So no hate mails but here’s an interesting historical oddity: a Ku Klux Klan Lamp.

It is powered by two large 150 watt bulbs that turn a very long and oversized cylinder inside. This 1920’s lamp was manufactured by the famous Scene In Action lamp company. They produced some of the finest motion lamps ever made in the twenties and thirties. This one was made on special order; it was not mass produced. It stands tall at over 28 inches tall by over 17 inches wide. Constructed of sturdy wood, metal, and glass with a paper scene and plastic cylinder. This is the actual lamp that was used to photograph for our motion lamp book (“Collector’s Guide to Motion Lamps” by Sam and Anna Samuelian. It is on page 27). We only know of one other existing example of this lamp, and we have never seen another for sale anywhere. Originally used by Klan members to call meetings, this lamp represents a shameful historical chapter in our history but still should be recognized as the incredible and unique piece that it is.

Found at SMS Noveltiques, which has a neat collection of antique animated motion or spinner lamps: Link – via Neon Poisoning

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yayo
Dec 17th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
Cool chap, is there any video or the like?
marie
Dec 17th, 2006 at 8:26 pm
I just have a quick question… I understand that the KKK used buring crosses… but… why? what did it signify? sorry for the stupid question, but I’ve never understood it.
MS
Dec 18th, 2006 at 2:31 am
From Wikipedia Article: “Cross burning”: “The burning cross is a symbol used by the Klan to create terror. Cross burning is said to have been introduced by William J. Simmons, the founder of the second Klan, in 1915.”

Interesting item, even if it does symbolise racist narrow-mindedness. I would also be interested if someone could find a video of this in action.
marie
Dec 18th, 2006 at 10:24 am
but why a cross? I think any large item on fire in my front yard would be terrifying…

maybe crosses are just easy to make?
megmeg
Dec 18th, 2006 at 11:31 am
gosh you guys, it’s a lower case T, and it means “time to leave”

(kidding, south park reference ftw)
Storm
Dec 18th, 2006 at 3:11 pm
As a kid I had seen pictures of clansmen and I thought they looked GREAT! Imagine having a costume as cool as that! My mother seemed not to share my enthusiasm and constant drawing of hoods and burning crosses. But I was daydreaming about having those robes. Only much much later did I learn that they actually had an agenda as well and weren’t solely about dressing up. What a bummer.
travis
Dec 18th, 2006 at 4:21 pm
FYI:

from answers.com: “In Scotland the “fiery cross”, known as the Crann Tara was used as a declaration of war, which required all clan members to rally to the defence of the area. It is important to note that in Scotland there has absolutely no racist connotations….The most recent known use there was in 1745, during the Jacobite Rising, over a century before the foundation of the KKK.”

so before it became a skewed symbol of hatred it was something else…..just thought i’d say that.

ps. i do not condone nor endorse the kkk or any other racist organization.
H8
Dec 18th, 2006 at 5:54 pm
megmeg, you beat me to it hahaha.
Chad Cloman
Dec 19th, 2006 at 8:21 am
I think this lamp would be really cool, even as a Christian. There are several references in the Bible to eternal fires (not just the ones in Hell), and here we have a mixture of the cross of Jesus with the fire of the Holy Spirit. Too bad they’re not on sale, I’d like to have one.

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