The Washington Drape plain stem lamps are some of the most recognized Aladdin lamps to be produced. Probably the only Aladdin lamp that is more recognized by the public would be the Alacite Tall Lincoln Drape.
The Washington Drape plain stem lamps were originally produced and marketed in three colors: clear crystal, amber crystal, and green crystal. The clear crystal lamp was also produced with, and without, an oil fill.
You will also find reference to other colors, but those colors were not listed, or marketed, as distinct models by the Aladdin Mantle Lamp Company. They were designated as such only by collectors due to their distinctive color variances from the original three colors that were marketed.
The Washington Drape lamps can also be found with two distinctive patterns on the underside of the base. One pattern resembles the footprint of a bird and has become known as the "crow's foot" pattern. The other has a pattern consisting of small lines, or dashes, that alternate direction as they traverse the foot. The alternating lines seem to form a series of "V's" and therefore the pattern has become to be known as the "V pattern."
Click image to zoom in
There are many variations of design in the Washington Drape plain stem lamps. You can see the small glass foot at the very bottom of the base in this photo, but some lamps have had the small feet ground off at the factory. There are also differences in hight, and weight, as well as the design of the leafs that surround the stem where it meets the base. Several color variations are also found in this series of lamps.
Click image to zoom in
The B-53x clear crystal plain stem Washington Drape lamp came about due to the war effort during World War ll. The oil fill cap and threads were made from brass, which was a priority metal being used in munitions at that time, so they were removed. This lamp speaks loudly of a time in American history when supplies were rationed in a fight for freedom.
Click image to zoom in
Aladdin green crystal (plain stem) Washington Drape lamp.
Click image to zoom in
Aladdin amber crystal (plain stem) Washington Drape lamp.
Click image to zoom in
The photo above shows the two different designs that can be found on the base of the original both Washington Drape and Tall Lincoln Drape lamps.
The pattern on the green lamp foot to the left is known as the "crow's foot" pattern while the one on the right amber lamp foot is known as the "V pattern." The V pattern can be made up of a series of longer lines, or a series of shorter stubby lines. The V pattern lamps are considerably heavier than those with the crows foot design.
If you look closely at the top of each foot you will see the letter "A" on the rim. It can be found on many, but not all, of the Washington Drape and Tall Lincoln Drape lamps. The "A" is not always on the rim, however. It can be found in different locations on the underside of the foot on both Washington Drape and Tall Lincoln Drape lamps. To complicate things further some of the letters are capital A and others are lowercase a!
These are just a few of the variations found in the Washington Drape series of lamps. There are several others including color variances pronounced enough to cause collectors to designate some of them as a separate collectible lamp.
Click image to zoom in
Click image to zoom in
The "A" on the rim of the foot is a little more visible in this pair of photos, at the top of the timages.
