Willocq-Bottin - Wilba – Brussels


This page documents the history of Willocq-Bottin (Wilba), a Belgian manufacturer based in Brussels that produced hurricane lanterns in the mid-20th century. Here you'll find a detailed brand history, an overview of known models, and an illustrated look at the Wilba L200 lantern.

Willocq-Bottin was a Belgian manufacturer based in Brussels, active from at least the late 19th century. The earliest known reference dates from 1896, when the company was listed at Square Gutenberg 33.

The firm made lighting equipment for bicycles and cars, both acetylene and electric. Advertisements from the period also list bicycle dynamos, generators, radiators, fuel tanks, mirror holders and other accessories.

A 1949 advertisement shows a broader range by that time, including searchlights and lighting for ships, trains and trams.


Historical advertisement of Les Phares Willocq-Bottin, Brussels (Belgium), 1921. At this time the company was located at 53 Rue Saint-Josse, Brussels. The advertisement shows their production of electric projectors, headlights and complete acetylene lighting systems for automobiles, motorcycles and bicycles. It also mentions their export activities, showing that Willocq-Bottin supplied lighting equipment beyond Belgium during this period.
The Willocq-Bottin factory on Rue Saint-Josse 53, Brussels

Over time, the company name also appears as “Etablissements Willocq-Bottin”.

Known addresses from historical sources:

1896 – Square Gutenberg 33, Brussels
1907 – Square Gutenberg 33, Brussels

1916 – Rue Saint-Josse 53, Brussels
1951 – Rue Saint-Josse 53, Brussels


Sometime between 1907 and 1916 the company moved to a new location. After 1951 we no longer find references to the company name, so it is likely that Willocq-Bottin ceased operations sometime during the 1950s.

Next to this text you can find an image of a map showing the location of the factory on Rue Saint-Josse 53.

Brand names

Known brands used by Willocq-Bottin for bicycle and automobile headlights include:

  • Idealux
  • Wilgia
  • Belgia

These advertisements and documents show that Willocq-Bottin remained active for several decades and mainly focused on lighting technology and accessories for transport applications.

Willocq-Bottin headlights were numbered in catalogue with article numbers beginning with the letter “L”. The same style of numbering can also be seen on the Wilba hurricane lantern L200.

Wilba L200 Hurricane Lantern

Very little information can be found about the Wilba L200 hurricane lantern. So far, only an invoice from 1940 has been discovered. Based on this, my estimation is that the production period was roughly between 1930 and 1950.

Below are photos of the Wilba L200 from my own collection. This example has blue-marked glass and is in very good condition.

The height is 36 cm, making it even slightly taller than the Feuerhand 260.

Text on the tank: WILBA No. L200 – Fabrication Belge.

Wilba L200 kerosene hurricane lantern, front view, showing full height of 36 cm
Wilba L200 hurricane lantern, side view showing the globe and burner assembly
Close-up of the Wilba L200 fuel tank with embossed text: WILBA No. L200 – Fabrication Belge
Wilba L200 lantern detail showing the blue-marked glass globe
Wilba L200 lantern top view showing blue WILBA tekst on glass
Wilba L200 lantern overall condition — very good, from private collection
Wilba L200 burner and wick mechanism detail
Wilba L200 hurricane lanternfuel cap detail

Wilba L200 Carbide Lantern

The Wilba L200 shown above is a kerosene hurricane lantern. Something often seen among hurricane lantern manufacturers was that they also produced a carbide version. Below are photos of the carbide version of the Wilba L200.

My thanks go to Henk Kloosterman, who owns this example and kindly provided the photos.

Wilba L200 carbide version hurricane lantern, front view, from the collection of Henk Kloosterman
Wilba L200 carbide lantern side view showing the carbide generator
Wilba L200 carbide lantern markings and tank inscriptions
Wilba L200 carbide lantern detail showing the water tank and drip valve
Wilba L200 carbide lantern detail tank
Wilba carbide L200 backside

Sources and acknowledgements

Special thanks to Simeon Denbaes, who was the first to suggest a possible connection between the Wilba hurricane lantern and Willocq-Bottin. This observation became the starting point for further research into the history of the Wilba lantern and its possible origins.

Also thanks to Henk Kloosterman for the pictures of the L200 carbide.

Additional sources used for this research include historical advertisements, catalogues and documents found through Delcampe.net and RetroNews.