Antique Sign GE National Mazda Lamp Electric Display Light Bulb Advertising 1920
The name was first used in 1909 and was discontinued in 1945. The name was chosen because it is the name of the Zoroastrian god of light.
General Electric or GE subsidiary. Electric Light Bulb Advertising Display. Post 1909, likely 1920s, use of the term Mazda was ended around 1945 by General Electric. Light Bulbs as shown are included. This item is not something for children to play with, and should be kept out of the reach of children.
Use of this item could result in shock, burn, injury, or death, as is standard with any 100-year-old electronic antique. This display was in poor condition when I received it.It had severe water damage and the wood base was about 10 mm twisted out of a flat horizontal plane. This required the use of a router sled to re-level the base, and the application of about a 10 mm piece of walnut across the entire bottom.
You will notice if you look closely at the ends that they're slightly varied and the thickness is greater on one side than the other. This is a visual deviation as the display sits flat and level on a flat surface such as granite. If anything a tiny amount of rock in it, maybe a 16th of an inch, if placed on a wood tabletop because wood table tops are not flat like granite.
Before the condition of the base was addressed, as found finish issues particularly the decals were barely visible, I've included a couple of pre-wood restoration photos. The power cord now has a polarized plug, which is a slight safety improvement over the original nonpolarized arrangement. If the switches are off, and there's no bulb in the socket, the polarized plug will prevent energizing of the socket as the switch interrupts the hot black wire at the base of the socket hole, while the sleeve of the socket is connected to the white wire. Empty Light bulb sockets are always hazardous if there is no bulb in the socket. To prevent your fingers from entering the socket, always have undamaged bulbs in the sockets providing a margin of safety if you choose to use this display. This is a retail sign which is 100 years old. The bulbs in the sockets (as shown) are LED 0.8 watt bulbs, 2200 Kelvin, 60 lumen, standard base. The 11 bulbs in total consume 8.8 watts. The switches are mostly in good condition, with the exception of about three which are a little finicky when turning on or off, some delay when switched for the spring to move the switch into the open or closed position.A couple of the sockets have chipped porcelain collars, which doesn't seem to affect their operation, but keep in mind any part of the light bulb contacts will likely be hot when the switches are open and the display is plugged in to power. One socket contact sleeve is smaller than it should be as part or a portion of the socket contact must have sheared off at some point.
The shortened sleeve makes any bulb difficult to thread into the socket but if you properly apply slight pressure and a straight insertion the bulb will screw securely into the socket. I would not recommend placing bulbs greater than 11 watts each in the 11 sockets. The s-14 bulb is a standard 11 watt sign bulb, the LED bulbs shown in the photos are modern versions of the same s-14 envelope shape, with 0.8 watt filaments, a total of 8.8 watts consumption well within the margin of safety. This fixture is unfused & would be best to use a GFCI, or arc fault interrupt power source, safety system. Bulbs as shown are included.This item will be packed for safe transit to your location. The sign display is about 27 and 3/4 inches long, by 16 in.
Tall with bulbs shown, by about 6 in. Wide at the widest point of the sloped base. For use with 120 volts AC 60Hz. Outdoor use, or wet/damp conditions use is not recommended, not considered safe whatsoever. Hope to do business with you soon.