Adlake

The Adlake company is the only company that has managed to survive next to Dietz and is still in business. The history of Adlake started in Chicago; the full name is Adams and Westlake Limited. In 1857, John McGregor Adams and John Crerar founded Adams, Crerar, and Company. They saw opportunities because of the growing population and the work on the railways. The company focused on selling supplies for the work on and around the railway, including storm lamps. In 1865 the company proved so successful that it opened its factory in Chicago. A few years later, in 1871, this factory also burned down completely but was quickly rebuilt and back in operation a year later. In 1863, coppersmith and locomotive engineer William Westlake came to Chicago, invented the removable glass, patented it, and began making storm lamps under Cross, Dane, and Westlake. This factory was also destroyed by the fire in 1871 and quickly rebuilt.

Adlake In trouble due to patent infringement

In 1873, the company ran into problems when they were sued in connection with the patent of John Irwin, probably by Dietz. This caused significant financial problems, and the company had to close its doors in 1874. After this, John McGregor Adams, Dane, and William Westlake continued under the name Adams and Westlake. Many railroad lanterns, train headlamps, signal lights, and other equipment for on and around the track were produced during this time. In 1884 they opened a second factory in Chicago. In the years that followed, Adlake expanded its production; they have stoves, bicycles, cameras, and bicycle lights. The brand was strong in the storm lanterns world, but the rest never got off the ground. From 1899 through the 1940s, Adlake produced lanterns with the "Non-sweating Balanced Draft Ventilation." The lantern itself often reads, The Non-Sweating Adlake Lamp Chicago. Rust was a big problem with lanterns, but this design, which revolved around ventilation, was largely overcome. From 1907 they also gave the option of electricity in the lanterns.