It was during 2005 that Sandy and I met Myldred Costa. We were working on our second book and, quite unexpectedly, Myldred contacted us because she discovered Pairpoint catalog pages among the belongings of her deceased Godfather, Carl Sylva. It was one of those convergence moments in time.
Myldred was a resident of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, an adjoining town to New Bedford, home of the Pairpoint Corporation. Her mother had been an office employee at the Pairpoint and Carl Sylva was one of the engravers through the 1920s and 1930s. Carl lived with Myldred during the latter years of his life.
Myldred was very generous with her time and first-hand knowledge of the waning years of Pairpoint’s existence. She shared many stories about Pairpoint and its workers. Her family was part of the Pairpoint family and regularly socialized with many of the now-famous glass workers and engravers. Among the things she gave to us were numerous photographs taken of Carl Sylva “hanging-out” with Ollie Cayton, George Avila, Louis St. Aubin, and others. There were photographs of Carl working at his cutting bench in Myldred’s home.
One of the stories was about a Pairpoint Radio Lamp (E3037) depicting a panther on an orange-red background. She gave us a photograph of the lamp sitting on a table, half-hidden, behind Carl Silva. According to Myldred, this lamp was one of only a few made as gifts to Pairpoint salesmen and management. She said it was never offered for public sale. With my amateur Photoshop skills, I reconstructed the image so that the complete lamp could be presented for view. Both the original photograph and my reconstructed photograph are presented here.
I have been operating under strict orders by my better-half to buy one of these lamps if they ever come up for sale. I’m still doing all the laundry, because I haven’t delivered the goods yet. Can anyone help?
Myldred was a resident of North Dartmouth, Massachusetts, an adjoining town to New Bedford, home of the Pairpoint Corporation. Her mother had been an office employee at the Pairpoint and Carl Sylva was one of the engravers through the 1920s and 1930s. Carl lived with Myldred during the latter years of his life.
Myldred was very generous with her time and first-hand knowledge of the waning years of Pairpoint’s existence. She shared many stories about Pairpoint and its workers. Her family was part of the Pairpoint family and regularly socialized with many of the now-famous glass workers and engravers. Among the things she gave to us were numerous photographs taken of Carl Sylva “hanging-out” with Ollie Cayton, George Avila, Louis St. Aubin, and others. There were photographs of Carl working at his cutting bench in Myldred’s home.
One of the stories was about a Pairpoint Radio Lamp (E3037) depicting a panther on an orange-red background. She gave us a photograph of the lamp sitting on a table, half-hidden, behind Carl Silva. According to Myldred, this lamp was one of only a few made as gifts to Pairpoint salesmen and management. She said it was never offered for public sale. With my amateur Photoshop skills, I reconstructed the image so that the complete lamp could be presented for view. Both the original photograph and my reconstructed photograph are presented here.
I have been operating under strict orders by my better-half to buy one of these lamps if they ever come up for sale. I’m still doing all the laundry, because I haven’t delivered the goods yet. Can anyone help?
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