Today we’d like to introduce you to Woody Kirkman.
Woody, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Since the winter of 1984, W. T. Kirkman Lanterns has become the “Premier” tubular lantern manufacturer & distributor in North America, and now routinely ship orders worldwide. Many of the items we offer are exclusive to our line and are not to be found elsewhere. To complement our vast selection of new lanterns and parts, we also maintain an inventory of obsolete replacement parts and glass. A major portion of our business is our custom electric fixtures, something we take great pride in. Our years of experience result in an unaltered appearance that aims to be historically correct as well. As each electric lantern is built to order, your specifications can be incorporated with ease. You will find many of our electric lantern fixtures at major theme parks and restaurants from Coast to Coast.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Most of our line is centered around technology and items that are 100 to 150 years old, so it is always a challenge to find sources or manufacture from long obsolete scratch items. A good portion of the items in our line is exclusive to our catalog for this reason, as we either make them in house, our contract the fabrication. Over the past 30 years, we have lost several sources for various items, some of which we have been able to continue our own production, while others we’ve had to discontinue.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
W. T. Kirkman Lanterns, Inc., the only Tubular Oil Lantern manufacturer in the United States, and is proud to offer the broadest selection anywhere of new kerosene lanterns, oil lamp, and parts. We are the exclusive importer and distributor for the U.S.A. for Gaudard Kosmos Oil Lamps made in France, and inventory one of the largest selections of Dietz lanterns and Aladdin Mantle Lamps and replacement parts in the Western United States, Our manufacturing capabilities allow us to offer many items that are exclusive to our line that won’t be found elsewhere. We also maintain an ever changing inventory of old stock replacement lantern parts and lantern globes for Dietz, Adlake, Handlan, C.T. Ham, Embury, Paull’s Leader, Regal and several other lantern manufacturers.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
We believe in doing business the old fashioned way. We hope by liberal and courteous treatment of our customers, with a line of high quality goods at popular prices, that we will be viewed as the definitive company in this line, to merit the confidence of the trade, and be favored with a large share of their patronage.
Contact Info:
- Address: W.T. Kirkman Lanterns
947 Main Street
Ramona CA 92065 - Website: www.lanternnet.com
- Phone: 760-789-2126
- Email: info@lanternnet.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WTKirkmanLanterns
Image Credit:
W.T. Kirkman
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