demystifying the origins of new york city subway station light fixtures

new york city subway incandescent light fixtures...

there isn't a substantial amount of information (readily available, that is) about their design and/or use in the subway stations dotting the underground manhattan landscape. early 20th century periodicals or trade journals provide some, albeit scant, details pertaining to the lighting employed. over and over i stumble upon vague descriptions alluding to "bronze fixtures" being used in and around the stations, but photographic documents or detailed descriptions rarely surface. it is known (and at least documented) that the russell & stoll company of new york city provided electrical fittings, including light fixtures comprised of brass, bronze or copper with plated finishes. in fact, the ceiling lights i acquired as of recent, provide the company's manufacturer markings - both on socket and fixture - in the form of embossed lettering.

perhaps the most documented example of subway lighting resides in the abandoned city hall station, where multi-arm, bare bulb pendants still illuminate a station people visit only on a few occasions each year. these fixtures have been photographed time and again - throughout the decades - but who fabricated those fixtures? i, for one, cannot answer that question, although i have a few guesses.

while visiting various stations during trips to manhattan, i managed to capture a few of the fixtures "in situ" with the cameras i carry around at all times. most, if not all, are long forgotten - left alone in the dark (no longer electrified) and containing several coats of white paint to blend well against the ceiling above.

i am fortunate to have come across 5 fixtures in my collecting over the years. one is a single straight arm pendant or drop light. the others are flush mounts with pivoting bulb guards or "cradles." the photographs i've taken provide additional examples and/or configurations - all of which can be seen in this entry's gallery of images.

my research is ongoing, but has consumed much of my time over the past week. if anyone out there has additional information, photographs or fixtures to sell, please contact one of me or an urban remains staff member.