Local Philips MI 36s (XGS 104s)

The MI 36 appeared here in the mid-1990s - usually employed as a casual replacement for another 55 Watt SOX lantern. The lantern also saw some use on new housing estates and would always be seen on a 6 m column. Following the decision to do away with brackets, whole column replacements often had spigot-mounted versions fitted. Whilst the 55 Watt SOX version is the more common variety, 36 Watt PL-L versions are used somewhere in the County as well.

This isn't a deleted scene from "Attack of the Killer Philips lanterns"; there really is an MI 26/XGS 103 in close proximity to an MI 36/XGS 104! Both columns are at 5 m although the angle at which the photographs were taken suggests that the front column is higher. The columns are located on St Mary's Wharf Road. Presumably, the 'road' lighting scheme was designed separately to the 'car parking' scheme and there was never any comparison of the two designs before the columns were installed.

This XGS 104 stands outside the former Administration Block for the long-demolished Pastures Hospital complex in Mickleover.

A SELC / Westire AcRo photocell rated at 35 Lux controls the lantern's output. When new, a Royce Thompson Oasis 2000 photocell rated at 55 Lux would have been fitted.

This spigot-mounted XGS 104 is just off Wragley Way in Stenson Fields and would have replaced a column supporting a Philips MI 8 / Phosco P224.

The section of footpath south of Derwent Parade on Derby's Pride Park, and adjacent the River Derwent, was home to a number of base-hinged Fabrikat 6 m tubular steel columns supporting MI 36s, and painted the standard bright red colour that all of the street furniture is painted in this area. Indeed, my own Thorn Triumph 1 originates from another section of the footpath, and is painted to match the column. The MI 36 canopies are in their usual unpainted finish, however.

A short outreach bracket links the column to the lantern.

The original Philips bowl has required replacement with a vacuum-formed replica bowl. The gear tray is also misaligned. Owing to the footpath not being overlooked, vandalism is a common occurrence, with some of the MI 36s having been replaced with Thorn Beta 2s over the years.

Greenway Drive in Littleover still ran XGS 104s in 2024; the image below was taken in February. The lamp fitted in the foreground lantern was beginning to red-burn, owing to depletion of the sodium within the arc tube.

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