exceptional antique american early 20th century four light "electric shower" pan fixture fabricated by r. williamson & co., chicago, il. the fixture retains the original antique brass with flemish black accent finish. the impressive fluted pan mounts flush against the ceiling. original chain and fluted socket covers or shade fitters with set screws intact. the original yellow rayon cloth cord remains in great shape, considering age. the yellow brass shell edison key less sockets are original to the fixture. the well-designed residential pan fixture measures 18 x 18 inches. r. williamson & company was founded by richard williamson in 1882, who, foreseeing the immense magnitude and the demand that would be made for lighting fixtures, opened a small plant on the far northwest side of chicago, on milwaukee avenue. the entire space occupied by them at that time was fifteen hundred square feet. in a short time he was enabled to move into larger quarters, and in 1889, having outgrown the milwaukee store, he moved to what was then the heart of chicago, 205 randolph street. by this time, the house of r. williamson & company had taken rank as one of the leading "lighting fixture" houses in the city of chicago; but even this rapid progress was to be eclipsed, and in 1891 this firm was again forced to seek larger quarters, and located in a large warehouse on lake street, near state, which place they occupied until 1896, when this ever-growing firm decided to build what was then considered one of the largest "lighting fixture" plants in the western country; and the western section of the present mammoth institution was erected. at their peak, r. williamson & co. boasted more than 115,000 square feet of space, with more than 500 employees working within its various departments.