Antiques sleuth finds missing slips for library’s light fixture

Steven Stuenkel of the Hannibal Free Public Library’s staff inserts one of two replacement “slips” into place int the library’s historic Guthfan Conditionaire fixture. The slips were missing. Jenifer Barta of Hannibal was able to facilitate a transaction between the library and an Arkansas antique dealer to return the fixture to proper functionality.

MARY LOU MONTGOMERY

Hanging inside, near the Hannibal Free Public Library’s original main entrance - for both beauty and functionality - is a unique light fixture that was state-of-the-art when originally installed in this historic building. Known as a Guthfan Conditionaire, the appliance not only provides light, it also - as the name implies - serves to improve air circulation.

This past summer, it was brought to the attention of the library board that two “slips” were missing from this time-honored fixture, which is unique to the library’s decor.

Sara Anton North, who serves on the board, contacted Jenifer Barta, a local antique dealer, for assistance in finding and replacing the missing “slips.”

While not likely of the specific era of the library’s early 20th century construction, it none-the-less serves as a representation of the building’s several major upgrades.

While checking with various antique venues, both brick-and-mortar and virtual, Barta settled in to converse with a long-time affiliate of the firm that originally manufactured the fixture, the Edwin F. Guth Company of St. Louis.

While not able to specifically date the appliance, the affiliate with the Guth company - who is now in his 80s - confirmed, Barta paraphrases, “This was one of the first fan light fixtures; this was very early before mass productions. They changed the design on the slip light, I’ve seen a few, very slight, with an eye for detail, design of the metal work.”

Lou Barta, Jenifer’s husband and fellow antiques devotee, sad, “There was a lot more fancy stuff toward bottom of the newer fixtures.”

Once the light fixture was identified and approximately dated, the Barta’s set out to find replacement “slips.”

Jenifer Barta turned to Facebook, where she posted her request for assistance. A collector from Arkansas, who has family ties to a community not far from Hannibal, noticed the posting, and reached out to help. She did, indeed, have slips acquired during her years of collecting, and would be willing to sell the slips to the library.

The Arkansas collector made a visit to Hannibal this past summer, and negotiated a transaction with the library. Jenifer Barta wasn’t involved in the financial transaction, but said that the price negotiated between the library and the dealer was very reasonable.

A 1936 catalogue for the Guthfan Conditionaire promotes the product as “First Aid to Air Conditioning. Better Circulation. Better Light.”

The inventor “came up with this design,” Jenifer Barta said. “The first design of light and fan, and the fan actually cooled off the room by drawing the hot air up and trapping it in the ceiling.” With the high ceilings in the buildings of that era, “It could trap a lot of air up there,” Jenifer said.