69CAD. Firs Lane, Smethwick, Sandwell, West Midlands With thanks to Dwight for informing me of this Survivor. Located near the junction of High Street is a 25 ft (8 m) Avenue 3DN concrete column, made by Concrete Utilities, and fitted with a later (1970s') Thorn Alpha 1, for a 90 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamp. The Avenue 3DN is a slightly narrower-based version of the original 1930s' Avenue 3D column, and appeared in the mid-late 1940s. The next evolution, the 3DNN, would appear in the 1960s, and its slimmer profile again demonstrates how lamp control gear components reduced in size over the decades.
The column also supports an internally-illuminated One Way sign, which, although not as old as the column itself is, is likely to date from the 1980s or early 1990s.
The Arc 2 bracket is seen here in its side-entry version.
A crack has formed in the top of the bracket, though judging by the different appearance to the concrete here, the crack may have formed in a previous repair that had been aimed at prolonging the installation's life.
The Alpha 1's acrylic "Opticell" unit is slightly damaged, causing dirt and moisture to accumulate within the (normally) sealed lamp area.
A Royce Thompson Oasis 1000 photocell, rated at 70 Lux, provides the Alpha 1's automatic switching.
Decorative vertical lines are moulded into the Avenue 3DN's base.
The thickness of the base section makes the door seem especially narrow. A plate bearing an old maintenance number, S 71, is attached to the door.
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