Thomas Lamb
Encyclopedia
Thomas Babbit Lamb was an American industrial designer. He is best known for his innovative handle designs closely modeled on the mechanics of the human hand.
shop. In the evenings he studied figure drawing and painting at the Art Students League of New York
. Lamb also studied merchandising at Columbia University
. This combination of anatomy, art, and business was integral to Thomas Lamb's career as a designer.
magazine to illustrate a series of Kiddyland cartoons. Lamb developed an extensive line of tie-in
s, including Kiddyland textiles, soaps, and talcum powder. There was even a Kiddiegram designed for Western Union
and endorsed by Shirley Temple
.
, which was used to encourage the purchase of war bonds.
Like Charles and Ray Eames
, Lamb noted the inadequacy of the crutches used by wounded and disabled veterans. Initially focusing on the armrest, Lamb quickly noted that the hand bore the main burden, and began to experiment with ways to redistribute the pressure and make the crutches easier to handle. After extensive study anatomical and medical textbooks he developed his Lamb Lim Rest crutch.
movement.
By the late 1940s Thomas Lamb was known as the "Handle Man". In 1948 his work was featured at the Museum of Modern Art
during the period when the design establishment were focused on Bauhaus
-inspired functionality. This publicity led to contracts to produce a line of cutlery for Cutco
and cookware for Wear-Ever.
Thomas Lamb died on February 2, 1988 at ninety-one years of age.
Biography
Lamb was born in Detroit City on September 18, 1896. From the age of 14, he apprenticed himself to a plastic surgeon, doing medical drawings in exchange for anatomy lessons, and worked in a textile designTextile art
Textile art may refer to:*Any one of the textile arts, those arts and crafts that use plant, animal, or synthetic fibers to construct practical or decorative objects*Fiber art, the creation of fine art using textile arts techniques and materials...
shop. In the evenings he studied figure drawing and painting at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
. Lamb also studied merchandising at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
. This combination of anatomy, art, and business was integral to Thomas Lamb's career as a designer.
Textile Design
At seventeen, Thomas Lamb opened his own textile design firm, specializing in advertising, fashion, and magazine illustration. His bedspreads, napkins, and draperies became very popular in the 1920s and were featured in many of the New York Department stores including Lord & Taylor, Macy's and Saks Fifth Avenue.Children's Books and Commercial Tie-ins
In 1924 he began illustrating children's books, including Runaway Rhymes, The Tale of Bing-O, and Kiddyland. Shortly after his success with Runaway Rhymes, Lamb signed a contract with Good HousekeepingGood Housekeeping
Good Housekeeping is a women's magazine owned by the Hearst Corporation, featuring articles about women's interests, product testing by The Good Housekeeping Institute, recipes, diet, health as well as literary articles. It is well known for the "Good Housekeeping Seal," popularly known as the...
magazine to illustrate a series of Kiddyland cartoons. Lamb developed an extensive line of tie-in
Tie-in
A tie-in is an authorized product based on a media property a company is releasing, such as a movie or video/DVD, computer game, video game, television program/television series, board game, web site, role-playing game or literary property...
s, including Kiddyland textiles, soaps, and talcum powder. There was even a Kiddiegram designed for Western Union
Western Union
The Western Union Company is a financial services and communications company based in the United States. Its North American headquarters is in Englewood, Colorado. Up until 2006, Western Union was the best-known U.S...
and endorsed by Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple
Shirley Temple Black , born Shirley Jane Temple, is an American film and television actress, singer, dancer, autobiographer, and former U.S. Ambassador to Ghana and Czechoslovakia...
.
The Effect of the War
Like many other U.S. designers, Lamb re-examined his design philosophy during the Second World War. Among his first responses to the economic and social realities of the period were a line of Victory Napkins and the "Adolph the Pig" piggy bankPiggy bank
Piggy bank is the traditional name of a coin accumulation and storage receptacle; it is most often, but not exclusively, used by children. The piggy bank is known to collectors as a "still bank" as opposed to the "mechanical banks" popular in the early 20th century. These items are also often used...
, which was used to encourage the purchase of war bonds.
Like Charles and Ray Eames
Charles and Ray Eames
Charles Ormond Eames, Jr and Bernice Alexandra "Ray" Eames were American designers, who worked in and made major contributions to modern architecture and furniture. They also worked in the fields of industrial and graphic design, fine art and film.-Charles Eames:Charles Eames, Jr was born in...
, Lamb noted the inadequacy of the crutches used by wounded and disabled veterans. Initially focusing on the armrest, Lamb quickly noted that the hand bore the main burden, and began to experiment with ways to redistribute the pressure and make the crutches easier to handle. After extensive study anatomical and medical textbooks he developed his Lamb Lim Rest crutch.
Becoming the "Handle Man"
Lamb applied the patents developed in designing the Lim Rest to cookware, cutlery, surgical tools, luggage, sports equipment, and industrial equipment. His designs culminated in his unique "Wedge-Lock" and "Universal" handles, and were a major influence on the Universal DesignUniversal design
Universal design refers to broad-spectrum ideas meant to produce buildings, products and environments that are inherently accessible to both people without disabilities and people with disabilities....
movement.
By the late 1940s Thomas Lamb was known as the "Handle Man". In 1948 his work was featured at the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
during the period when the design establishment were focused on Bauhaus
Bauhaus
', commonly known simply as Bauhaus, was a school in Germany that combined crafts and the fine arts, and was famous for the approach to design that it publicized and taught. It operated from 1919 to 1933. At that time the German term stood for "School of Building".The Bauhaus school was founded by...
-inspired functionality. This publicity led to contracts to produce a line of cutlery for Cutco
Cutco
Cutco Corporation, formerly Alcas Corporation, is the parent company of CUTCO Cutlery Corp., Vector Marketing, KA-BAR Knives Inc. and Schilling Forge. Its primary brand is also the name Cutco....
and cookware for Wear-Ever.
Thomas Lamb died on February 2, 1988 at ninety-one years of age.
Resources
- Thomas Lamb's papers at Hagley Museum and LibraryHagley Museum and LibraryThe Hagley Museum and Library is a nonprofit educational institution located in Wilmington, Delaware. Hagley Museum and Library collects, preserves and interprets the history of American enterprise.- Hagley Library :...
- Digital exhibit on Universal Design Features items from the Lamb Papers at the Hagley Museum and Library