original vintage industrial "vapolet" wall sconce, fabricated specifically to seal out moisture, dust and dirt from the light source. the industrial wall sconce contains a heavily reinforced cast aluminum fitter with weather resistant porcelain socket. the "sun purple" glass threaded end bulb guard was manufactured by the appleton electric co. removed from the top floor mechanical rooms located in the old (non-extant) cbs studios building (chicago, il). manufactured by the benjamin electric manufacturing co. the sconce measures approximately 11 x 6 x 5 inches. benjamin electric manufacturing company was a chicago-based electrical company founded in the late 1800's. the company was founded by reuben b. benjamin, and filed its first patent for an electric lamp socket in 1898. the company went on to manufacture various other electrical products. one of benjamin's most notable products was their series of non-contact fire alarm horns, introduced in the early 1920's. they were available in flush-mount, single, and double projector versions, in either red or gray. these horns were mainly used by ibm, and later simplexgrinnell up until the 1960's. in 1958, benjamin was bought out by thomas industries, inc. the company's factory in illinois was closed in 1963.