On page 172 of their book, Howell and Schroeder described a tipless carbon filament lamp that was called the Meridian; it was a lamp designed to compete with the Nernst Glower. A U.S. patent was issued to Samuel Doane and Henry Burnett as early as 1894 (No 516,800) for the tipless construction but it wasn't used until Mark Branin developed an improved method of manufacturing the stem (U.S. No 532,760). In 1907 tipped and tipless lamps (with GEM filaments) were also called GEM Prismo within the National organization.

Some confusion can exist regarding the term "Meridian" because lamps with carbon, GEM, tantalum and tungsten filaments were marketed that utilized round bulbs that also were called Meridian. In most of those cases, however, the lamps were not of the tipless design. The point to be made here is that the general term Meridian referred to a lamp with a spherically shaped (round) bulb (either 3-3/4 or 5-inch diameter), and limited information suggests that the base used on such a lamp was the skirted medium screw Edison type. Lamps with exhaust tips that utilized the same bulb diameters as the Meridians were also in the product line. Although Howell and Schroeder didn't mention it, it is believed the tipless Meridian lamp usually utilized GEM filaments.

Tantalum Meridian lamps for voltages between 100 and 125 volts were made for 40 watts (bulb diameter=3-3/4 inches) and 80 watts (bulb diameter=5 inches). Tantalum Meridian lamps designed for 200 to 250 volts were made in 50 and 80-watt sizes, the bulb diameters again being 3-3/4 and 5 inches.

Tungsten Meridian lamps for voltages 100 to 125 were made for 40 watts (bulb diameter=3-3/4 inches) and 60 watts (bulb diameter=5 inches). Tungsten Meridian lamps designed for 200 to 250 volts were designed for 45 watts (bulb diameter= 3-3/4 inches) and 60 watts (bulb diameter=5 inches).

Tungsten Meridian lamps were not made tipless nor could they be obtained with colored glass. Usually Meridian lamps were sold with the bulb bowl half frosted. This was so because the lamps were meant to be used with reflectors. However, lamps could be ordered with bulbs clear or fully frosted.