Street Lighting : the City of Birmingham handbook, 1965
From the 1965 edition of the City's official handbook, the first since the 1958 issue, and editied by F W Bradnock, the city's Public Relations Officer. The handbook was a regular publication and it describes the work of the City Council, in terms of administration, public works and buildings, education, social services, protective services, amenities and civic trading undertakings.
Birmingham were great believers in mercury vapour street lighting both on main and side roads. They stuck with two local manufacturers for the most part - Revo Electric of Tipton for B or side roads and GEC, whose works were in Witton in the city, for main roads. The text notes that by 1937 the bulk of the main road lighting was in place and the city had used the Birchfield 'box' lantern as well as growing numbers of Difractors both on modified tram poles and steel columns. By the 1960s the replacement for these, on new steel columns, was the GEC Clearmain Z8420 and later models, that the city used by the thousands. Seen here is a road that was once very familiar to me as we lived just a ong and to the left from here - this is, I am sure, Bristol Road looking towards Selly Oak from Pebble Mill Rd with the abandoned tram reservation in the centre. But, on second thoughts and chatting with a pal who grew up at 1022 Bristol Road we think this is looking towards Northfields beyond Selly Oak!
This would have used the 400 watt lamps at 90' intervals and this is a 'very' Birmingham look.
Street Lighting : the City of Birmingham handbook, 1965
From the 1965 edition of the City's official handbook, the first since the 1958 issue, and editied by F W Bradnock, the city's Public Relations Officer. The handbook was a regular publication and it describes the work of the City Council, in terms of administration, public works and buildings, education, social services, protective services, amenities and civic trading undertakings.
Birmingham were great believers in mercury vapour street lighting both on main and side roads. They stuck with two local manufacturers for the most part - Revo Electric of Tipton for B or side roads and GEC, whose works were in Witton in the city, for main roads. The text notes that by 1937 the bulk of the main road lighting was in place and the city had used the Birchfield 'box' lantern as well as growing numbers of Difractors both on modified tram poles and steel columns. By the 1960s the replacement for these, on new steel columns, was the GEC Clearmain Z8420 and later models, that the city used by the thousands. Seen here is a road that was once very familiar to me as we lived just a ong and to the left from here - this is, I am sure, Bristol Road looking towards Selly Oak from Pebble Mill Rd with the abandoned tram reservation in the centre. But, on second thoughts and chatting with a pal who grew up at 1022 Bristol Road we think this is looking towards Northfields beyond Selly Oak!
This would have used the 400 watt lamps at 90' intervals and this is a 'very' Birmingham look.