164. The Model Village, Long Itchington, Warwickshire Fitted to the first two columns of this short cul-de-sac are AC Ford AC888 lanterns, possibly still running 80 Watt MBF lamps. The columns are of the Stanton 10 square-based concrete type, with top-entry 'F'-type brackets. In a strange coincidence, these installations were captured towards the end of July 2015; the same time as when AC Ford announced that it would be cutting its final ¾′′ BSP threads and wiring up its final AC888 lanterns, owing to the retirement of its owner, the always affable and accommodating Mr Brian Wilde. Well, that was at least the plan; a further announcement on the company's website later revealed that a buyer had been found, and that Brian would continue to provide assistance until such times as "he was no longer required" - a rather sad comment, I feel! (We love you, Brian!)
The polycarbonate lantern bowl shows noticeable signs of discolouration, as a result of years of UV degradation from both the sun and the lamp.
The second example was in near-identical condition to the first.
The locknut of a Royce Thompson ER12HN miniature photocell can be glimpsed towards the rear of the lantern.
This example's bowl was slightly less discoloured than the first example's was.
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