Philip J. Handel was the creator of the Handel antique lamps and he started making his lamps when he was a young man. He did not start up a company until 1902. He was actually in a partnership with Adolf Eydam in 1885 but this partnership did not last very long. It was broken up in 1892 when Handel decided to open up his very own business. Handel & Company was opened up in 1893 and Philip J. Handel then died in 1906. His widow then married his cousin William F. Handel who took over the company and the name never changed.