34B. Ferrers Avenue, Tutbury, Staffordshire With thanks to AgentHalogen_87 for informing me of this Survivor. In something of a continuation from the previous page, this estate is home to many 15 ft (5 m) Stanton 10 concrete columns with side-entry 'F'-type brackets still supporting their original GEC Z9530 35 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lanterns in 2024, which is notable in itself. One column, however, is known to carry something especially rare in its base too - a British Lighting Industries (BLI) AME 53131.H ballast for 45, 60 or 85 Watt SO/H and SOI/H lamps - the forerunners of the later 35 and 55 Watt SOX lamps. The BLI name was the holding company formed by AEI (Associated Electrical Industries) and Thorn Lighting in 1964, which combined the manufacturing and sales activities of the two previously separate companies. This lasted until 1967, when GEC bought the remaining AEI assets, and all lighting aspects became the property of Thorn; thus, the approximate age of the gear can be determined, particularly when 1964 was the year that Philips unveiled the new Sodium Tin OXide lamp, and changed the face of low pressure sodium technology forever. As I suspect that this installation dates from the 1970s, the BLI ballast may have been unused old stock, or have been used elsewhere before being fitted here.

Even when viewed from the ground, something is amiss with this lantern...

The use of an over-lamp reflector suggests that this is actually a Z9532 (i.e. when new, the lamp control gear was situated within the lantern itself), and is probably a mid-1970s' example, judging by the style of bowl employed. Presumably, the original ballast failed, and as the BLI one was the only spare available at the time (but would be far too large to fit in the lantern), it had to be shoehorned into the column base instead.

Here is the AME 53131.H ballast in all of its glory - around 60 years old and still going strong! The solid green sleeving employed on the lantern cable's earthing conductor suggests that it pre-dates 1977 (as I suspected); this being the year that the Wiring Regulations changed, requiring this conductor to be identified with the now-familiar green and yellow sleeving instead.

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