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c.1917 1

The Oakland Lamp Works (or Oakland Mazda Lamp Works or Oakland Mazda Division of the National Lamp Works of the General Electric Company) was a light bulb factory at 16th and Campbell Streets. It was owned by General Electric beginning in 1912. Today the building is the Lampwork Lofts apartments.

The first part of the building on the Campbell Street side was constructed in 1910 for the Oakland Warehouse Co., which despite the name, did final assembly of light bulbs as well as acting as distributor. By 1912, they seem to have been purchased, as the name no longer appears in directories or the newspaper, but the manager, James A. Vandegrift, stayed the same.

1911 3
1911 directory (note typo)

The first reference to the Oakland Lamp Works found is from 1912. They quickly needed more space, and a second part of the building was constructed on the 16th Street side 1917-1918.

1912 Sanborn excerpt1951 Sanborn excerpt

In 1914, the factory employed about 250 people, many of them young women. The company seems to have take pretty good care of them, maintaining a break room, library, first aid station, and a cafeteria, as well as helping the employees form clubs and organize activities. 2 The number of employees doubled after the building was enlarged.

1916 ad1925 ad

Links and References

  1. New or greatly enlarged industrial establishments of Oakland and East Bay cities by Oakland Chamber of Commerce, c.1917 via Oakland History Center
  2. Oakland Lamp Works Oakland Enquirer September 5, 1914
  3. Greater Oakland, 1911 Pacific Publishing Company 1911
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