Our History

The O.C. White Company releases a 30 page catalog of its products—exclusively lighting. There is no mention of dentistry or photography equipment. Hundreds of other industries are listed as repeat customers, including National Cash Register Co., Royal Typewriter Co., Singer Mfg. Co., Gillette Safety Razor Co., Otis Elevator Co., Ford Motor Co., R.C.A. Victor Corp., Tiffany & Co., Winchester Repeating Arms Co., S.S. White Dental Mfg. Co., Kellogg Products, Harvard University, Studebaker Corp., Massachusetts General Hospital, Smith & Wesson, Eastman Kodak Co., General Electric Co., American Woolen Co., Sears, Roebuck & Co., Hotel Astor, Standard Oil Co., and General Motors Corp.

Thomas Franklin Price, 26, is killed in a driving accident in Worcester. He is the husband to Dorothy White, O.C. White Jr.’s daughter. Having recently graduated from Yale, he was working in management at the O.C. White Company.

Fluorescent lamp technology is introduced.

During World War II, O.C. White lights are extensively used as chart lights on board ships, both in the US Navy and the Merchant Marines. Like many companies of the day, our manufacturing efforts are shifted to 100% War production. Many other products are used in other war facilities, such as the special lighting units that were designed to be parachuted into field operations.