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Who Designed The Norman Bel Geddes Soda Syphon?

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by: Ric posted: September 14, 2012

Who Designed The Norman Bel Geddes Soda Syphon?

The "Norman Bel Geddes" Soda Syphon is in the collection of many United States museums, always with the attribution "Norman Bel Geddes". It has been sold by all major auction houses...also with an attribution to Bel Geddes.

The reason for this, is the inscription on the base "Designer - Norman Bel Geddes". The raised inscription also reads "Walter Kidde Sales Co. Inc., Bloomfield, N.J.".

However, a search of the U.S. Design Patents shows the inventor of design Patent 112,535 was Worthern Paxton (1905-1977) and the patent was assigned to the Walter Kidde Sales Company, Bloomfield N.J. The patent was filed on May 18, 1938 and granted on December 13, 1938.

Paxton was a member of Bel Geddes firm but a relative unknown while Bel Geddes was a super star from his work in the theatre. He was also the designer of the popular Worlds Fair Exhibit, General Motors futurama, which was probably the year the soda siphon was introduced.

So... the markting decision to put Bel Geddes name on the siphon probably should have said "from the firm of Norman Gel Geddes".

Soda Syphon

Patent Pictures

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Filed Under Tags:  Art Deco  ·  Bel Geddes  ·  Soda Siphon

Comments

I've got 2 black belGeddes streamlined soda syphons and one red. The blue is elusive . I would expect designer stars of bel Geddes ' magnitude to have others designing and producing with them. This was probably the case with Worthen Paxton. Somebody out there's probably got the scoop on this . Paxton may have worked for Kidde (which has always made its big money producing Kidde fire extinguishers) and bel Geddes may have been under design contract with them, but not exclusively. At the same time , he may have been designing for Macy's and Studebaker , as well as for Kidde. Lew Buckingham [email protected] DecoDenver Lew Buckingham
by: Lew Buckingham
An interesting document revealing what was a common practice at many design studios of prominent 20th century industrial designers.There are many popular vintage designs that were collaborative efforts among staff designers or multiple manufacturers and were designated by contract to a particular company or designer for whom the product was credited. This takes nothing away from designers like Norman bel Geddes,Henry Dreyfus Walter Dorwin Teague,Raymond Loewy,Gilbert Rohde,George Nelson,Charles Eames among others and the products and designs that have there names on them.
by: Peter

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