Updated 05-III-2021

Norman L. Norris
This article was written by fellow lamp engineer and collector Edward J. Covington, and originally appeared on his own website of biographical sketches of persons involved in the lamp industry. Following his passing in February 2017, and with kind permission of his family, Ed's words have been preserved here in the hope of maintaining access to his writings for the benefit of subsequent generations.


Norman L. Norris, pictured in 19212

Biography
Norman L. Norris (1863-?) was born on a farm near Windsor in Ashtabula County, Ohio, USA. In 1895 he sold lamps by mail in Warren OH, under the name of Phoenix Electric Company. He then took over the factory of the New York State Electric Co. and the sales office was set up in Youngstown OH. Norris went to Youngstown in 1895 but the business went broke to satisfy loan claims.

Norris was then appointed manager of the Orient Electric Company. In 1899 Elmer W. Gillmer bought the lamp equipment and moved it to Ravenna OH, where it was named the Colonial Electric Company.

Norris then had visions of another company emerging in Youngstown, and in 1901 he and others started the Banner Electric Company, which was ultimately absorbed by National in 1907, and became the Youngstown Lamp Plant of the General Electric Company.


References
  1. "Biography of Norman L. Norris", in The Electric Incandescent Lamp 1880-1925, E.J. Covington, printed by GE Lighting NELA Press, Cleveland OH, 1998, p.139.
  2. "Banner Electric Company 20th Anniversary", 1921 USA.