Research

The Rushlight Club's reason for being is to study and research lighting devices. Over the years it has developed an impressive cumulative body of knowledge:

• The Rushlight, a quarterly publication, has been published continuously since 1934. Three cumulative indexes track over 4000 pages of scholarly research and patent information as well as reproductions of lighting-related advertising and reviews of lighting books.

• Club members share their personal knowledge and resources through discussion at meetings, mail and e-mail exchanges, and informal get-togethers.

• The Rushlight Club publishes lighting-related books and other material. The Club also reprints booklets of historical interest, and often offers books on lighting at a discount to members.

Rushlight Club publications currently available:

•  Early Lighting, a Pictorial Guide. An overview of lighting devices throughout history.

•  James M. Nichols Catalogue of Kerosene Lamps &C. Originally Published About 1868-1872, Reprinted 2010 by The Rushlight Club, Inc.

•  The Rushlight Archives DVD A digitized version of the Club’s publication The Rushlight from 1934 through 2006 on one data DVD.

•  The Rushlight 1980-2006 Cumulative Index   Available for Download (PDF file)

The following publications may be purchased from the Rushlight Club:

•   The Dietz & Company Illustrated Catalogue of 1860 [sic], First Edition, 1982
  A reprint of the Dietz Catalog of 1860 with a "New History of Dietz and Victorian Lighting" by Ulysses G. Dietz

Books offering a good start for your lighting research:

Rushlight Club reference materials are archived at the Spruance Library,
84 South Pine Street, Doylestown, PA,     Phone: 215-345-0210

Reference Books

Trade Catalogs

Misc. Materials

Spruance Library Website          

Articles from The Rushlight

Here are some articles taken from The Rushlight. All of these articles are copyrighted and may not be reprinted or used without permission from The Rushlight Club.

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