The Mutual Sunset Lamp Company

1908-1922

The story of the Laurel Lamp Company starts with Max Weiss (12/9/1891-1/22/1982) a Polish tinsmith who arrived in the United States in 1908. In 1913 he and his uncle, Aaron Habacht, formed a lamp company called “Habacht and Weiss” selling oil, then gas ceiling fixtures and coach lanterns

“Habacht and Weiss” operated from a small shop at 127 Baxter Street in New York City.

Early “Habacht and Weiss” Customers included a lighting story in the Bowery district of New York owned by Isidor Leviton (founder of Leviton Manufacturing Company) and Moses Blitzer (co-founder and chairman of Lightolier Inc.).

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”.

The Sunset Lighting Fixture Company had a factory located at 532-540 West 22nd Street in New York City.

1922-1933

Around the same time, one of Max Weiss’s former apprentices, Morris Stadler, formed the Mutual Lamp Manufacturing Company (also known as Mutual Fixture Company) along with partner Signmund Thau.

Looking to expand but with limited resources, the “Sunset Lighting Fixture Company” began a merger with “The Mutual Lamp Manufacturing Company” which had a fully equipped factory and funds available.

A 1922 Mutual Lamp Manufacturing Catalog shows that the Sunset Lighting Fixture Company was initially a subsidiary of Mutual Lamp Mfg. Company.

In 1924 the two companies fully merged to become to the Mutual Sunset Lamp Manufacturing Company as documented by the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum.

The Mutual Sunset Lamp Company was located on the corner of Lafayette and Houston Streets in New York City and relied on steam-powered machinery for manufacturing.

According to the Smithsonian Design Museum, famed American furniture designer Gilbert Rohde designed pieces for the Mutual Sunset Lamp Company in the early 1930s. One of his iconic lamp designs (pictured) was featured as part of Mutual-Sunset’s light fixtures included in the 1933 Chicago World’s Fair.

1933-1943

In 1939 Mutual-Sunset moved to New Brunswick, N.J. but with the outbreak of the Second World War and limitations on materials, the company moved back to Brooklyn.

During WWII, Mutual Sunset served as a subcontractor to the Bendix Corporation manufacturing marine lighting for the U.S. Navy.

In 1943, founder Max Weiss had a severe heart attack  and was bought out by the other Mutual Sunset partners before retiring. 

Max’s son, Harold, who had been working at Mutual Sunset in various positions took over his father’s role of head of manufacturing briefly before leaving the company on July 19, 1943.

In 1945, Max Weiss emerged from retirement and, with his two sons, Murray and Harold Weiss began work on starting a new lightning venture.

According to the Smithsonian, Mutual Sunset was formally dissolved by proclamation in 1993.

Trade catalogs from Mutual Sunset Lamp Mfg. Co. have been archived at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History (NMAH) as part of the Smithsonian Libraries Trade Literature Collections.