CONTROL LOCATION L98938 B/FIELD WY

The following couple of photographs show the column that was once fitted with this Aries. A second-hand Thorn Beta 2 (possibly recently removed from the adjacent Kipling Drive) was used as a replacement lantern.

The next column along, 98933 (logically), still retained its Aries. These photographs show how my lantern would have looked when installed. The lanterns along this stretch were group-switched from column 98938; hence the lack of any sort of photocell to the original lanterns.

Few differences exist between this, the 55 Watt version of the Aries, and the 35 Watt version, apart from the overall length of the lantern, of course. The most noticeable difference in the style of the bowls on both versions is that this lantern incorporates a series of vertical lines into the rear of the bowl; these are absent in the shorter bowl. The bowl seen here is identical in design to that of the Simplex Gemini lantern, however.

The canopy is in a typical condition for its age, though this dirt can easily be cleaned off using a pressure washer. Slightly more concerning is that the rear of the canopy (near the bracket entry spigot) appears to be cracking; a downside to GRP-canopied lanterns. Whilst the internal grub screws do appear to be seized, there is no evidence to show that the lantern had to be forcibly hammered off in order for it to be removed, so the cracks are probably due to expansion of the internal steel support tube because of corrosion. As mentioned above, these lanterns were group-switched, and so this lantern had no control of its own fitted. A small bung plugs the hole in the canopy, in which a two-part cell detector would be fitted if the lantern needed its own method of photocell control.

No refractors are moulded in to the underside of the bowl, allowing for a clear view of the lamp inside the lantern (if one were fitted).

Opening the bowl reveals that the passage of time has not been kind to this lantern: unusually, the inside of the canopy is in a similarly grubby state to that of the outside. The block connector linking the lampholder with the lantern's supply cable has become brittle, and heavy corrosion is present on the lantern's main earthing terminal. At least the 'Simplex Lighting' sticker has survived!

A close-up of the radiator-like vertical lines moulded into the bowl reveals that they are not prismatic - they merely diffuse the light produced around the cap end of the lamp.

The lamp control gear was installed within the column base. As the replacement Beta 2 would be fitted with its own integral gear, these components were removed, along with the lantern. The GEC Z1616 ballast is in good condition for its age, but sadly, the BICC capacitor's case is corroded from being installed in the damp column base. It probably still works, however. The capacitor carries a date of July 1979, as does the ballast (date code LG), which would be concurrent with the age of the installation.

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