20th Century Design Classics

The Anglepoise Lamp reguarly tops the lists of design icons.  A paragon of engineering, style and utility.  Designed by British designer George Carwardine it was instantly a hit and was made recognisable across the world under the Luxo brand name.

Inspired by the constant tension principle of human limbs, Carwardine developed a lamp which could be both flexible and stable, like a human arm.  The engineering behind the lamp is simple and effective, three to four springs working in tension to give the lamp perfect balance, holding an exact position in space until it is moved.  No wonder Carwardine wanted to call it the Equipoise.  

The style is minimalist, echewing any unecessary decoration it projects a sense of efficiency and industry, tidy and clinical - perfect for the engineering studios and hospitals that it would be used in.  So useful was the ability to concentrate light on a precise point that the Anglepoise became ubiquitous, no self respecting office was complete without one.  The lamp became so well known that in 1978 The Soft Boys produced the post-punk song 'I wanna be an Anglepoise Lamp'.

Probably the most famous Anglepoise ever is Luxo Jr. mascot of the Pixar Animation Studios, apparently based on the lamp on John Lasseter's desk.  You can see the first Pixar short film called Luxo Jr. here.

Anglepoise are still making their lamps and this is their next generation, created by design master Kenneth Grange:

Speaking of design classics, SHUB is on a quest to discover who was behind this piece of brilliance.  Seen everywhere, cheap, simple construction, solid and just about functional enough to be used - we'd call it the AK47 of catering.

But who was the designer? When was it first produced? and Why does the lid never *quite* close?
Answers on a postcard please.