Laurel Lamp Company

The history of the Laurel Lamp Company begins with Max Weiss, a Polish tinsmith who immigrated to the United States in the early 20th century. In 1913, Weiss and his uncle, Aaron Habacht, formed a lamp company called, Habacht and Weiss, selling oil lamps, gas ceiling fixtures and coach lanterns. When electricity became more widely available in homes, Habacht and Weiss began shifting production to portable electric lamps and changed the name of the company to the Sunset Lighting Fixture Company. In 1924, the Sunset Lighting Fixture Company merged with The Mutual Lamp Manufacturing Company to create the Mutual-Sunset Lamp Manufacturing Company.[2][5][6] In 1943, Max Weiss had a heart-attack and retired from Mutual Sunset.

In 1946, Max Weiss came out of retirement and along with his two sons, Murray and Harold Weiss formed the Laurel Lamp Manufacturing Company.[5]

In April 1969, Instrument Systems Corporation, now known as Griffon,[7] acquired Laurel for US $3.6 million. Harold Weiss remained as President of Laurel under the new ownership.[8][9] By 1971, Laurel had expanded to open showrooms in New York, High Point Market North Carolina, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.[10][4][2]

In January 1979, Instrument Systems terminated Mr. Weiss’ contract and Henry Jampol was named president of Laurel.[11] In 1981, Howard Wolff was president of the Laurel Lamp Company.[12]

Laurel’s corporate status was revoked in 1981. In 1983, Westwood Lighting Group purchased the remainder of Laurel’s assets before folding the brand into Westwood’s existing product line.[13]