E. V. L. stands for the Parisian lantern manufacturer Édouard-Virgile Lapierre who, in 1875, took over the business from his father Auguste Lapierre who, in 1848, had set up a metalwork shop in Paris where he produced toy lantern. The son launched new lantern designs and was so succesful that he bought out his rival Louis Aubert. He also constructed a modern factory for the mass production of lanterns and slides in Lagny in the subburbs of the capital. In April 1902 the company was transformed and became Lapierre Frères et Compagnie, uniting Édouard-Virgile Lapierre and his sons Maurice and René. The company joint in 1908 with the company of ingenieur Jules Demaria and continued as stock company under the name of Société anonyme des Établissements Demaria-Lapierre.

trademark of Lapierre et Cie