Ours was a ~12" diameter polished aluminium reflector on a cast iron bracket, appears to be designed to be screwed to the wall but ours was always stood on the floor. in the middle a ceramic edison screw holder and 'bulb' somewhat like thisWell I`m glad I never mentioned those electric fires with wire wound bare to touch elements, quite common back in the day and not difficult to touch with your hand. If it was glowing red hot it might deter you but if only recently energised you might not see/fell the hotness then touch the live element, not good by todays standards but plenty of the around back in the day and I do not remember piles of dead bodies littering the streets, just a few of them for the council to sweep up weekly. So no harm done.
Seriously though, looking back just a few years might amaze some folk about the practices and protections we used to have (or not have) in very recent history. Nowadays you have to be even more determined to actually come to any harm (back in the days of common sense)
EDIT: I recall dad relighting his cigar on it on a regular basis while working in the garage.