Thorn Alpha One
A true classic amongst mid to late 20th Century street lighting lanterns, but sadly now a dying breed. The first example of this then revolutionary street light was unveiled in 1955, with production continuing until the 1980s the lantern changing very little in design over those years. The sodium lamp inside is sealed within the acrylic ‘Opticell’, preventing insect and particle ingress, but the weakness was the vertical glued joint between the two halves that made up the Opticell, which was prone to fatiguing, eventually failing and allowed water ingress. It’s odd because some of these lanterns remained good and water tight, while others gave up the ghost after a few years. As low-pressure-sodium lighting is swept away from Britain’s streets, so with it will go the last remnants of these iconic roadside classics.
This example is in A1 condtion.
Thorn Alpha One
A true classic amongst mid to late 20th Century street lighting lanterns, but sadly now a dying breed. The first example of this then revolutionary street light was unveiled in 1955, with production continuing until the 1980s the lantern changing very little in design over those years. The sodium lamp inside is sealed within the acrylic ‘Opticell’, preventing insect and particle ingress, but the weakness was the vertical glued joint between the two halves that made up the Opticell, which was prone to fatiguing, eventually failing and allowed water ingress. It’s odd because some of these lanterns remained good and water tight, while others gave up the ghost after a few years. As low-pressure-sodium lighting is swept away from Britain’s streets, so with it will go the last remnants of these iconic roadside classics.
This example is in A1 condtion.