original c. 1930's american art deco machine age brushed cold-rolled steel floodlight with "stepped" profile and original convex lens - curtis lighting

late 1930's original american art deco style machine age pressed and formed steel floodlight with unique "stepped" profile. the medium-sized exterior or interior fixture retains the original mogul base ceramic socket. the detachable ground glass convex-shaped lens is original and free from damage. there is a toggle latch for loosening the removable rim cover from the gasket, allowing the floodlight to be easily serviced or cleaned, while remaining weatherproof. the integrated socket housing and reflector have been brushed down to bare metal and sealed with a clear coat lacquer. the floodlight was manufactured by the curtis lighting company of chicago. the original mounting bracket and/or stand was removed long ago. floodlighting was pioneered by walter d' arcy ryan at the 1915 panama pacific exhibition. his technique was to shine lights on the buildings from a distance, to use reds on corners and, perhaps, green on st. patrick's day. ryan's work would not have been possible without a device that could direct the light's rays on the subject instead of diffusing it uselessly into the night sky. chicago happened to be the home of the man known as the "archenemy of glare" and the "pioneer of indirect illumination," as curtis lighting (formerly the national x-ray reflector co.) referred to its founder, augustus curtis. the company was devoted to the design, manufacture, and installation of engineered lighting equipment which provides the correct amount of illumination for proper architectural and lighting effect. measures approximately 16 inches in diameter and 17 inches long.