Local Thorn Gamma 5s

This lantern found a use on many footpaths and car parks owned by Housing Associations - usually running mercury lamps, though a small number used 35 Watt SOX.

At the very top of Arthur Hind Close are several Thorn Gamma 5s; all using 125 Watt mercury lamps - these are the ones that Jeremy mentions on the Backboards in Collection page, and I have to agree with him that the lanterns and columns are in a "very good condition". I think that the lanterns may all run on time switch control but I am not completely sure at the time of writing.

This Abacus raise-and-lower column-mounted 35 Watt SOX Gamma 5 is in a slightly poorer condition but continued to work until January 2008, when it was replaced with a WRTL Arc. This installation was to be found in a communal area in Holly Court in Mickleover, and was the last surviving example of a large number of SOX Gamma 5s that once lit the footpaths of the 'Silverhill' Estate; of which, Holly Court is on the edge. All others had been replaced with GEC Z5698Us (in small numbers), Gamma 6s and Beta 5s - the latter, often being where a replacement hinged column had been installed. Fortunately, the lantern was saved into my collection. A Zodion SS55 two-part cell is fitted to the canopy.

The zoomed-in image of the lantern reveals that the canopy was not fitted correctly at the time of photographing.

In operation, the light output was good - the bowl was very clean.

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