Haldo Springbak

This has to be one of the most unusual bollards I've ever seen - it is nothing like a regular British traffic bollard! The name of this bollard gives away what it is meant to do - namely that it should spring back after being hit in a collision. The design of this bollard means that the usual 'up-lighter' system cannot be used. In the Derby City area, I can only remember seeing these at one location in the 1990s (the bollard has long-since disappeared, although the base remains) - they never seemed to gain the popularity of the more standard base-lit type.

The bollard is a very unusual shape indeed. It was very clean despite being stored away for years. There is no graphic on this bollard, but if there was one, it would be applied to the face shown here. Depending on where the bollard was situated, another graphic could be stuck on the other face, should it be required.

Once the fibreglass shell is removed, the construction of the bollard can be seen. The tubes fit down either side of the spine.

The shell itself comes off in one piece. I suppose that if someone ever found themselves trapped in a flood, they could use it for an oar - though I don't think they'd go very fast!

Underneath the base are six springs, in pairs. They are quite rusty and so don't allow the bollard to move as much as it should do. Some oil might sort this problem out. In the centre of the base is a socket for a standard power lead - the sort that computers and similar appliances use.

I fitted the two tubes and a power lead and switched on. At first nothing happened as the starters had to heat up, but after a few seconds, the tubes both came on.

I then refitted the shell, and the bollard was complete.

Pearce Gowshall K30 | Haldo Springbak (Keep Left)

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