Anglepoise: Why We Carry Britain's B Corp Lighting Pioneer at Comosum

Anglepoise is a British lighting brand founded in 1932 by engineer George Carwardine, who invented the constant-tension spring mechanism that defines the modern task lamp. The Original 1227, launched in 1935, remains in production and is among the most recognized lighting designs of the 20th century. Anglepoise is a Certified B Corporation — one of the few lighting brands to achieve independent third-party verification of its environmental and social performance — and backs every product with a lifetime guarantee, building a lamp-repair model rather than a replacement model into its business from the start. At Comosum, we carry Anglepoise because its design credentials, sustainability verification, and manufacturing integrity are as substantial as its reputation.

The Story Behind Anglepoise

Anglepoise was founded in Redditch, England, when George Carwardine, an automotive suspension engineer, applied the physics of constant-tension springs to task lighting. The problem he solved was elegant: a lamp that could be repositioned freely, hold its position precisely, and provide focused, adjustable light without the mechanical complexity that made earlier adjustable lamps impractical for daily use. The Original 1227 — named after its 1935 patent — was the result.

The design is now over 90 years old and still made in England. It has been imitated more than almost any other lighting design in history, but the original holds a quality of balance and spring tension that copies rarely replicate. Anglepoise has continued to develop the core idea: the Type 75, designed by Sir Kenneth Grange in 2003, applies the same mechanical principles with a tighter, more contemporary profile. The Type 80 adapts the concept for pendant and wall applications.

Collaborative editions have expanded the brand's reach without diluting its design integrity. Editions with Paul Smith — bringing the designer's signature stripe to the Type 75 and Original 1227 — and Margaret Howell, whose editions carry the pragmatic British sensibility her fashion work is known for, have introduced Anglepoise to new audiences while remaining fully functional lamps, not decorative objects.

The brand is still UK-manufactured. The Original 1227 is made in England. This is not common for a product at Anglepoise's price points, and it matters for quality control, for employment, and for the shorter supply chains that reduce transport-related environmental impact.

How Anglepoise Builds Sustainably

B Corp Certification

Anglepoise holds Certified B Corporation status — the gold standard for independent business sustainability verification. B Corp certification requires companies to meet verified standards of social and environmental performance, accountability, and transparency across operations, supply chains, and governance. For a lighting brand, this means demonstrating responsible material sourcing, ethical labor practices, and measurable environmental management — not just good intentions. B Corp certification is renewed through periodic reassessment, making it an ongoing commitment rather than a one-time credential.

Lifetime Guarantee and Repairability

Every Anglepoise product carries a lifetime guarantee, backed by a full parts and repair infrastructure. This is not marketing language — Anglepoise makes replacement components available for their entire product range, so a lamp bought today can be maintained and repaired indefinitely. The practical effect is that an Anglepoise lamp has a potential lifespan measured in decades, not years. In a lighting category dominated by designed-in obsolescence and non-repairable LED modules, this is a genuine differentiator and a measurable sustainability advantage.

Manufacturing and Materials

UK manufacturing for core products reduces transportation distances and supports domestic supply chains. Anglepoise uses energy-efficient LED technology across their current range, reducing operational energy consumption relative to incandescent predecessors. The brand's material choices — steel, aluminum, high-quality plastics selected for durability — are consistent with a lamp designed to last a lifetime, not a single product cycle.

Why Anglepoise Belongs at Comosum

Comosum carries Anglepoise because it represents everything we look for in a lighting brand: verifiable sustainability credentials, original design with a clear mechanical purpose, and quality that supports genuine longevity.

B Corp certification puts Anglepoise in rare company in the lighting category. The lifetime guarantee is a practical commitment with material consequences — it means the brand stands behind what it makes in the most concrete way possible. And the design itself is unimpeachable: the Original 1227 is as functional today as it was in 1935, a benchmark for what task lighting can be when engineered correctly.

The Original 1227 Desk Lamp belongs in any serious discussion of 20th-century British design alongside pieces by Jasper Morrison and Robin Day. The Type 75 Paul Smith Desk Lamp adds color and personality without sacrificing function. Buying Anglepoise through Comosum means access to the full collection — from desk and floor lamps to pendants and wall lights — with our team's guidance on which piece works best for your space. See how Anglepoise fits within our guide to sustainable brands at Comosum.

Explore Anglepoise at Comosum

Anglepoise's collection at Comosum spans task lamps, floor lamps, pendants, and wall lights — over 20 pieces across the Original 1227, Type 75, and Type 80 families.

• Original 1227 Desk Lamp — The lamp that started it all. In production since 1935, made in England, available in four colors. The reference point for all task lamp design that followed.
• Type 75 Desk Lamp — Kenneth Grange's 2003 evolution of the Anglepoise concept. Cleaner profile, same mechanical precision. Four color options.
• Type 75 Desk Lamp — Paul Smith Edition — The Type 75 in Paul Smith's signature stripe colorways. Six options, each a fully functional lamp with a designer's graphic sensibility.
• Type 75 Floor Lamp — Margaret Howell Edition — The floor lamp version in Margaret Howell's refined colorways. Three options.
• Original 1227 Maxi Pendant — A scaled-up pendant version of the 1227. Substantial presence; works in dining rooms, kitchens, and entryways.

Browse the full Anglepoise collection at Comosum, or explore our broader sustainable lighting collection to compare across brands.

Frequently Asked Questions About Anglepoise

Where is Anglepoise made?
Anglepoise is a British brand founded in Redditch, England in 1932. Core products including the Original 1227 are still manufactured in the UK. This domestic manufacturing is one of the reasons the brand holds its quality standards and supports a credible repairability program — components can be sourced and replaced because the production infrastructure remains in England.

Is Anglepoise a B Corp?
Yes. Anglepoise holds Certified B Corporation status, which requires independent third-party verification of a company's environmental and social performance, accountability, and transparency. B Corp certification is one of the most rigorous business sustainability credentials available, and Anglepoise is among a small group of lighting brands to have achieved it.

What is the Anglepoise lifetime guarantee?
Every Anglepoise product is backed by a lifetime guarantee, supported by a full replacement parts program. If any component of your Anglepoise lamp fails, Anglepoise will provide the parts needed to repair it. This means a lamp bought today is designed to last indefinitely — the business model is built around maintenance and repair rather than replacement, which is a genuine sustainability differentiator in the lighting category.

Does Anglepoise ship to the US?
Yes. All pieces in the Anglepoise collection at Comosum ship to the continental United States. Our team is available to advise on which lamp works best for specific applications — desk, floor, pendant, wall — and how to choose between the Original 1227, Type 75, and Type 80 families.

What is the difference between the Original 1227 and the Type 75?
The Original 1227, designed in 1935, uses a longer spring arm with a more industrial aesthetic — it's the archetype of the task lamp. The Type 75, designed by Kenneth Grange in 2003, has a shorter, more compact profile with a cleaner contemporary feel while retaining the same spring mechanism principle. Both are available in desk and floor lamp formats; the 1227 is also available in pendant configurations. The choice between them is primarily aesthetic — both perform at the same level of quality. View both in the Anglepoise collection.