The world’s original architect lamp designed in 1937 by Jac Jacobsen Unique design, ingenious lighting properties and a flexible spring balanced arm have earned L-1 a place among the world’s all time classics. L-1 is a prime example of how versatility, quality and stylish design produce a product of long-lasting popularity. Since its creation, 25 million L-1 luminaires have been sold worldwide. L-1 has been distinguished by most of the prestigious awards in the world of industrial design.
History of a classic The LUXO L-1 has been in production for 70 years, during which time more than 25 million units have been sold, and is widely regarded as the forerunner of all self-balanced desk lamps. The company’s founder, Jac Jacobsen, stands out among visionary Norwegian industrial pioneers. He laid the basis for a company which today manufactures lighting solutions in three countries and has sales units throughout Europe, the USA and Canada. He started his business in 1934, importing textile machinery. After some years, the Jac Jacobsen company also comprised three other sectors; lighting, ventilation and venetian blinds. In 1936 Jac Jacobsen received two crane-like spring balanced "monster" task lights included in a shipment of sewing machines from England. Supposedly, these task lights were sent to help with the operation of the machines. The task light was the 1934 Anglepoise lamp designed by George Carwardine, an automotive engineer specializing in vehicle suspension systems.
The definitive model Being technically minded and an engineer himself, Jac Jacobsen took a fancy to the strange looking task lights and contacted the producer in England to get the distributorship for Norway. It was given on the condition that he bought mechanical parts for 500 desk lamps, a substantial number at the time, and that he obtained product approval by the Norwegian safety authorities, NEMKO. Although the technical invention of the arm was ingenious, the desk lamp construction as a whole was primitive and had to be improved and refined a great deal. Both Anglepoise and L-1 derive from the same spring-balanced system, but the L-1 harnessed it to a much more refined design, which is why the L-1 has become the definitive model. Functionality and movement of the arm greatly improved when Jac Jacobsen added a self-balancing front arm. Jac Jacobsen’s design also featured a more elegant lampshade and a formal harmony between the shade, stand and the various articulated joints between them. With a license agreement in place, manufacturing started in Oslo in the autumn of 1937. Jac Jacobsen successfully obtained licenses to produce and market the product in all countries outside the Commonwealth.
"I give light" Jac Jacobsen derived the name LUXO from Latin - "I give light" - a name of international flair, easy to both write and pronounce. Jac Jacobsen lived to be 95 years old and was active in the company until his last days. Despite many attempts to improve on the L-1, and even more attempts to copy it, it remains one of the world´s leading task lights.
LUXO L-1 is widely regarded as the forerunner of all self-balanced desk lamps.
Early production facility in Oslo.
The Great 1. Identical in every detail to the classic L-1 except in size! Spanning an impressive 12.6 ft (3.85 meters), the Great 1 will be the central architectural element in any setting.Wired for E27 lamps both incandescent or halogen (max 250W) or HF compact fluorescent. Other light source solutions can be ordered on special request.
L-1 table The classic Luxo lamp and the forerunner of all articulated self-balancing luminaires. A traditional and popular symmetrical luminaire for offices, industry and at home. Can be ordered with a table base or a table clamp. 60W incandescent. 9W Megaman ultra compact.
L-1 wall The wall version of the classic L-1. A versatile lamp well suited for bedrooms, hotels, living rooms, libraries, etc. 60W incandescent. 9W Megaman ultra compact.
Colors: Available in White, Black, Aluminum grey and Chrome. For printing reasons colors may differ from the true colors.
L-1 floor The ideal companion to a reading chair or a sofa.The floor stand adds flexibility to the already flexible L-1 and can be positioned anywhere in the room. 60W incandescent. 9W Megaman ultra compact.
Left: L-1 chrome. Right: L-1 aluminum grey.
L-1 Glass: This is an exclusive version of the classic table lamp where the lower part of the shade is made of glass. It is ideal for residential style environments. It comes in 4 different versions. White opaque glass combined with a white shade and arm / Green opaque glass with white details / Blue opaque glass with silver details / Blue opaque glass with white details. 60W incandescent. 9W Megaman ultra compact.
L-1 Floor 90: A stylish variation of the L-1 shape.The shade is a combination of glass and metal fixed to a horizontal arm. It can be adjusted up or down by elevating the horizontal arm that slides within the upright. Head is made of opaque glass and white metal.The horizontal arm is chromed and the upright and base is white. 60W incandescent. 9W Megaman Ulta compact.
Luxo 1036-07
Luxo Corporation 200 Clearbrook Road Elmsford, New York, 10523 Phone: 914-345-0067 Fax: 914-345-0068 E-mail: office@luxous.com Internet: www.luxous.com
Luxo Lamp Ltd 1957 Le Chatelier Laval, Quebec, Canada, H7L 5B3 Tel (800) 361-3993 Fax (800) 567-9215 www.luxo.ca office@luxo.ca