Featured Boat/Yacht light.. Alemite?

Bought this piece the past weekend. I thought it was a converted boat light. Red globe with a bird on top. What's confusing is when I took it apart, I found a marking for the Alemite company. As far as I can tell, they only focused on lubrication and auto repair related items. I could find nothing about them manufacturing other non related products. Is there another Alemite company that I missed during my research?

They made some really nice work stations, but i've not seen any type of ornamental lighting like this anywhere...

https://www.servicemerchandisers.com/alemite/

 

Most boat lights were of the gimble type.
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Patd

 

https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-julian-mcdermott-pair-red-lights-beacons
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-perko-red-boat-light-chrome-1818324104
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-brass-navigation-ship-boat-244442712

Plenty of other examples. Signal/bow/running board/beacon type lights that are actually attached to the ship and not swinging around. No idea if mines one of them, but it's what first came to mind. The seller also mentioned it was off a boat, but i've never taken another persons word as gospel unless they have documentation.

 

Maybe repurposed from a bulk oil pump, like this.

 

Getting into a bit of history, apparently the company was first known as the Alemite Metal Co and then Alemite Die Casting Co. The Alemite Lubrication Co formed in 1918 http://www.skf.com/alemite/about/alemite-history/index.html . So there does seem to be point where they were making non lubrication related items.

 

So i'm thinking the Alemite Die Casting Co cast the bottom section for whatever company actually sold the light maybe. I'll have to tear it apart more to see if there's anything else hiding.

 

Didn't help. There another Alemite marking for the top piece though. The red glass is set into the base solid and won't move. The top has a seal.

 

Its a Leviton socket. 15w 125v. Might not be original to the piece. Could have been put in when it was mounted to the wood base. It looks 40's-50's to me. Maybe a bit earlier.

 

I was actually looking into the auto-lite connection also. Haven't been able to find anything matching my piece. Lots of miners lights from when they first started out, then batteries/spark plugs/auto related items. But that is another interesting piece to show any number of items could have an Alemite marking. Also the dropping of the name in the 1940's might help narrow things down.

 

I believe I have seen something like these in my 1920's auto wholesale catalogs : My 1937 Seagrave Fire Engine from San Diego had , at one time two similar lights mounted on the rear, minus the bird , I think they were repurposed PERKO marine lights that Shell Beach Fire district put on in the 50's or 60's, when ever they got a hold of it . My Catalogs are put away in storage right now though, so i cannot look .

 

What’s the base metal? Looks like maybe brass plated spelter. I doubt it was made as a marine light since The color red is normally a side light for the port side, and has integral shield to restrict beam to 120 degrees on the left. If it is spelter, that’d corrode into a white furry lump pretty quick even in a fresh water environment. A marine light wouldn’t have the eagle on top, requiring another watertight joint, unlike where this eagle is perched. Nice light for use somewhere on land.

 

You could ask on this petroliana forum, there’s a member by the name of “alemite” and many other informed members.
http://www.oldgas.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=postlist&Board=1

 

Not sure why people want to keep coming up with restrictions for what could be a boat/ship light or not. I already linked three similar shaped lights, without shades, shields, gimbals or whatever, and could link many more.

I do agree that the eagle was probably added when it was converted to a desk light.

I don't believe Alemite would be making pot metal castings. Could be though. Its fairly heavy/solid. It does have seals to keep moisture out...

It could very well be off a land vehicle, but i've yet to see a light of that shape/style so far. I'll keep browsing when I have free time and hopefully find something eventually.

Lastly, oldgas might be my next place to try. Not really on topic for there, but they do have a great user base with many knowledgeable people.

 

Looked at the 3 linked, first two appear to be chrome-plated brass, 3rd. Is cast copper alloy such as brass or bronze, none are spelter. Don’t think eagle was added later unless the whole thing was re-plated since the eagle matches the top exactly in color and texture.