Information about UVP, Inc
Mr. Thomas S. Warren in 1932 with the first field UV lamp
n 1932 a man named Thomas S. Warren (Mr. Tom as he was affectionally known by his friends), started a company called Ultraviolet Products, Inc. The company later became UVP, Inc. Mr. Tom and UVP, Inc., developed the first hand-held ultraviolet (UV) lamp for use in the field (see photograph above). The use of field UV lamps exploded during World War II as prospectors began looking for scheelite, and ore of tungsten. Tungsten was used to strengthen steel for the war effort.
As time passed, UVP, Inc. became the leading manufacturer of UV products. UVP, Inc. was based in Upland, California. Mr. Tom is also known as the Godfather of the fluorescent mineral hobby, having amassed a large warehouse full of fluorescent minerals behind the manufacturing buildings. He sold them wholesale to dealers like me, as well as retail at mineral shows etc.
Mr. Tom was born in 1903 and passed away in 2001, at the young age of 98. After he passed his son Paul took over the business. UVP, Inc., continued on until 2013 when the business was bought by Analytik Jena, a German company. Analytik Jena continued to manufacture all the same UV products that UVP, Inc. had in the past. I have been a dealer of UVP, Inc. and Analytik Jena products since the late 1980s. Those who surf my website may have seen the large number of UV products I sold for them.
On February 4, 2026 I was notified by Analytik Jena that they will no longer manufacturer the line of UV products designed by UVP, Inc. After approximately 40 years of being a registered dealer for UVP, Inc., and Analytik Jena this news came as a bit of a shock. It seems like Mr. Tom’s legacy of UVP, Inc. has finally come to an end. I know for the old timers like me who knew Mr. Tom or who had been to his warehouse, this is bittersweet. I just felt it was appropriate to let all my friends and customers know about this new development. I will continue to keep my UVP, Inc. page on my website until such time as I am told there are no more lamps or viewing cabinets left in their inventory for me to sell. Hang on to your old UVP, Inc. lamps, they may be collectors’ items someday!!
Sincerely,
George V. Polman, R.G.
Polman Minerals