An important electric light fitting and bracket, by T. A. Edison,
circa 1880, the first commercial light bulb socket, as designed and installed on the SS Columbia,
fitting of turned wood, externally ebonised, internal double copper connection loafers, one with wire link to side bulb compression screw, base with standard 3/8in. screw-thread with remains of the cloth-covered solid wire conductors, fitted to former-gas fed single-pivot bracket, with wedge-form tap, cast geometric decoration to whole body, finished with gilt, now presented within period polished mahogany case with blue velvet lining; a bulletin of The Edison Electric Light Company, issue No. 1, dated January 26th 1882; a signed group photograph of six of Edison's key associates - Francis Jehl, Frank Wardlaw, C. E. Estabrook, Charles L. Clark, John W. Howell and John W. Liet - taken on 19 October 1923 in the Pioneer office at the Edison Laboratories, showing two quadruple electric light chandeliers in the background and comprehensively inscribed verso with additional information; a recent photostat folder containing patent information and illustrations of socket designs from Edison; and a recent photograph of an early electric light display in a museum - the bracket with fitting length 9.3/4in. (25cm)