Introducing the 19th vintage lamp in my collection...
Representing the Model B Washington Drapes:
Emerald Green, Plain Stem (B-54E)
Emerald Green, Plain Stem (B-54E)
The Model B Washington Drape is arguably one of the most common Aladdin styles around (not to be confused with the Lincoln Drape, which is also very common in both the Short and Tall varieties). The Clear Plain Stem Washington Drape seems to be everywhere, as it was produced for 12 years, while the colored versions were only produced for a couple. The entire Washington Drape line spans 14 years, from 1939-1953. The Washington Drape font actually comes in 4 styles (Round Base, Filigree Pedestal, Bell Stem, and Plain Stem) and 3 main colors (Clear, Green, and Amber). The upper font bowls are the same on all 4. It is only the stem or pedestal and the bases that differ. This is very unique for an Aladdin. Most other styles only vary in color and hardware. While other styles may have had slight variations in molds during their runs, I believe this is the only style with this much of a distinct variation in more than just color. As for rarity, there happens to be 2 slight variations from the tri-color pallette: (1) a very rare clear lamp that has a pink tint to it, and (2) a rare version of green that has a bluish tint to it, and it is referred to as "Emerald".
Another characteristic that is unique to Washington Drapes is the color variations. Now, there were really only 3 colors for each style, but within the ambers and the greens, there is quite a wide range of shades from very light and faint to quite dark. I've seen many collections of each color that might contain 4 or 5 (or more) lamps of the same color, but all completely unique shades of that color.
Yet another unique feature of the Washington Drape is the threading color that holds the burner. The threads are actually within the glass instead of being raised and made of metal. Of the lamps I have, only the Model B Simplicity similar in is this way. The Model B Beehive is also embedded or recessed, but the threads are metal. 
And finally, another interesting thing about this style of Washington Drape - the base has 12 sides! The base is actually kind of 2 parts. There is a round portion on top and then the 12-sided base on the bottom.
Washington Drape Lamp Details:
Model: B
Year Produced: 1939-1953
Font/Burner: Side Draft
Chimney: Lox-on
Washington Drape Lamp Styles:
| Round Base (1939) | Filigree Pedestal (1940) | Bell Stem (1941) | Plain Stem (1941-1953) |
| B-39 - Clear B-40 - Green B-41 - Amber | B-50 - Clear B-51 - Green B-52 - Amber | B-47 - Clear B-48 - Green B-49 - Amber | B-53 - Clear B-53P - Clear w/ Pink B-54 - Green* B-54E - Emerald Green* B-55 - Amber* |
*Colored Plain Stems were only made in 1941-1942, only the clear was continued through 1953.
My New Lamp
I had been holding out on this style of lamp for a while. The Washington Drape seems to be a popular choice of new collectors, I think mostly because they are so easy to find (also in the running for most popular would be the Alacite Tall Lincoln Drape). So it seems kind of odd that it has taken me this long to add one to my collection.
When I decide on a color and style of a lamp, I tend to base it on 3 things:
- I like the color matched with that particular style (some colors look better on some lamp styles than others, in my opinion)
- I tend to be drawn more to the lamps that are worth more and are more valued by collectors
- I want a variety of styles and colors, so I don't want to pick every green lamp, or every pink lamp just because I like the color or it happens to be more valuable.
I knew that I didn't want a clear one, simply because they are all too common, and colored lamps are just more attractive. So, that left just the amber and the green. The glass Model B Colonials also came in the same 3 colors as the Washington Drape. I chose the amber Colonial because I happen to like it better than the green in that style. So for the Washington Drape, I was looking for green.
The Emerald green lamp ticked all the boxes for me - I love the color (I think it is much prettier than the lighter green hues), it is also highly valued and sought after by collectors, and it is a color I don't have in my collection already: WIN-WIN-WIN!
The trick with the Emerald Washington Drape is that many collectors and experts actually disagree on whether a lamp should be considered Emerald or not. There are 3 key factors (that I know of) that identify an Emerald; two are very obvious, and the other is very subjective.
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1. STYLE The only style with the Emerald color is the Plain stem. The Round Base, Filigree Pedestal, and Bell Stem were not produced with the Emerald color green. |
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2. "A" On the bottom of the lamp, there is an engraved capital letter "A" on the rim. ALL Emeralds have the "A", but some non-Emeralds have it as well. It's an absolutely necessary feature, but it is not an absolute defining characteristic, unfortunately. |
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3. COLOR The green is much darker than standard green Washington Drapes AND the green has a bluish tint to it. This is where things get tricky. Lighting can be a factor and personal opinions can vary. |
So, is my lamp a true Emerald? To be honest, I'm not 100% sure. My lamp definitely passes the first 2 checks - it is clearly a Plain Stem, and it has the "A"! It's only the color that could be questionable (I know, the most important part, right?!). I would LOVE to think that it is (of course)! I think that, at the very least, it is a very a passable version that at least some collectors would approve. Having never actually seen a confirmed Emerald in person (or in a clear photo), it's nearly impossible to say for sure. In certain lights, I could argue that there is a slight blue tint. It is clearly a darker green than most you will see on the market, which was a huge deal for me. I don't find the lighter greens to be that attractive. Even if it is not a true Emerald, I am still very excited about the color of this lamp. It is so pretty!
I've come across several lamps on eBay in which the seller "claims" that they have a true Emerald, but I have been skeptical. Ultimately, I decided to pass on others based on the color and/or the quality of the lamp itself. However, I finally decided that this lamp was so close to what I was looking for, so I decided to go for it. Unfortunately, the lamp did not come with a burner, so I had to find a Model B on eBay and purchase it separately, but I still think it was worth it.
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