original and intact early 20th century american industrial "white" articulating arm machine operator task lamp. the lamp may be shifted into any desired position and held there adjustably. the most astonishing feature is a sectional ball and socket joint on a base suited to any required position, either the ceiling, wall, floor, column and so on. this fascinating brass-plated cast iron joint received many awards and medals (e.g., franklin institute, of philadelphia, the massachusetts charitable mechanics association, of boston, etc.) for its remarkable originality, both in design and execution. both knuckle or cone-joint and wrist joint are comprised of cast brass with lightly incised manufacturer markings. every joint of the mechanism has an elastic pressure, easily adjusted if necessary, which is sufficient to hold a heavy lamp and shade quite firmly, and still yield to a moderate force when it is desired to change its position. the variety of form as well as the range of motion of these holders is almost unlimited. spun aluminum green enameled tapered deep bowl shade shade was a later addition. yellow brass general electric key socket intact and rewired with period rayon cloth cord. the unique faceted solid bronze c-lamp base remains in excellent working conditon. the very early "adjusco-loc" (encapsulating the turn-key socket) provides added reinforcement. the versatile industrial fixture was fabricated by the o.c. white co. of worcester, mass. the wrist and knuckle joints were almost always fabricated in iron with a standard baked black paint finish, or a brass wash, ordered on request.