83A. Off Albion Street, Beeston, Broxtowe, Nottinghamshire With thanks to Dwight for informing me of this Survivor. Situated on the access road to the rear of the Sainsbury's supermarket are several 15 ft (5 m) Thorn 'Sheerline' aluminium columns with Type 4 side-entry brackets; one of which still supports its original Beta 8 lantern running a 55 Watt SOX (low pressure sodium) lamp. Production of the Beta 8 ended after 1983, with the new Beta 2 replacing it in 1984 catalogues; however, the remaining example will be considerably older than that, and could have been over 50 years old when pictured in November 2024. Even in 2020, two further examples remained along the roadway.
Where the columns do survive along the roadway, most are rather badly bent from collisions with vehicles (probably, delivery lorries to the supermarket). With this column being situated within the car parking area, and having a signpost immediately in front of it, it has been spared such damage.
A Zodion (Fisher Karpark / Cableform) SS4 one-part NEMA photocell is fitted to the Beta 8's canopy.
Looking up from beneath the lantern reveals that a Philips-made lamp, dating from the late 1980s - early 1990s (going on the style of the arc tube support), is fitted.
The identification label includes both the 'Beta Eight' naming, along with the alternative AEI 'Junior Amberline' designation. The label also states that the lantern is intended for running 60 Watt SOX lamps, which were the forerunners of the 55 Watt size; the wattages being altered in the late 1960s as more efficient oxide coatings became available. As my own Beta 8 of this era features a similar label, and that one is from 1970, the change to the re-rated lamps must have been a gradual one.
With the installation being of aluminium construction, it appears far newer than it is in reality.
Although difficult to see here, the lamp control gear is installed within the lantern on this example.
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