The swan neck was easy to manufacture from a iron or steel rolled tube. They were either fully formed to support the lantern directly, or finished on the horizontal so a decorative finial was required. Other decorations included the purely aesthetic scrollwork and collars, whilst tulip and leaf husks not only beautified the spigot cap, but also provided additional protection from rust at the joint between the bracket and spigot.

The swan neck was a popular choice for a "gas conversion" in the 1940s and 1950s where the original gas post-top lantern was removed and replaced with a swan neck and high level termination. As columns were originally made in various heights, swan neck brackets were also made in different sizes so the lantern height above the road could be standardised.

By the 1950s, the swan neck bracket was still extremely popular, as manufacturers were still producing large numbers of top-entry lanterns. However, the lines became simpler, and the decoration was eventually scaled down and finally removed entirely. It was a practical move: scrollwork and spigot joints formed dirt and moisture traps where corrosion could set in.

As side entry lanterns became popular, the swan neck declined in numbers. Brackets evolved into simple bracket arms, or became part of the column (as with the popular "hockey stick" column). However, the swan neck does live on, albeit in smaller numbers, and is still available as a "traditional" option for decorative and/or heritage style street lighting.

Name: BLEECO Brighton Bracket
Date: Circa 1920s - 1950s
Dimensions: 30" (height), 11" (width)
Specs: Small pointed BLEECO finial, BLEECO collar, BLEECO leaf husk
Lantern: BLEECO Worthing (100W) / BLEECO Open Type Conical Lantern 677

The only known appearance of the Brighton Bracket appeared in a BLEECO catalogue from 1934. Fitted with a previously undocumented directional style lantern, the Brighton Bracket appeared to be typified by a small swan neck, finial and large leaf husk.

The bracket was too small for larger wattage lanterns, and appeared to be designed solely for smaller wattage lanterns. As it had little height, it was probably also designed for taller columns, where the extra height provided by a swan neck bracket wasn't required.

facing profile This was one of the first street lighting brackets I bought. I found it in Camden Market in the early 1990s, and I purchased it as it appeared to be a complete, small example of a street lighting bracket.

front profile It was originally fitted with a good example of a BLEECO Worthing (100W) lantern.

trailing profile However, I couldn't figure out how the leaf husk was originally fitted onto a column or fuse box. It wasn't until I purchased a second Brighton bracket, and found some original documentation, that I realised this bracket was incomplete: the spigot cap and/or fuse box had snapped off just below the leaf husk. These days I wouldn't have bothered with this bracket, but as it was one of the first I bought, I've kept it for sentimental reasons. And it also came in useful, as the other Brighton bracket had an extremely old BLEECO Worthing (100W) on it - so I simply swapped the lanterns over, and this old battered bracket can be used to display its equally battered lantern.

finial The finial is not the standard BLEECO finial. The other Brighton bracket in my collection has the same finial, so I wonder if this type was used for smaller brackets and lanterns.

collar The collar is a simple casting of three rings, pushed onto the swan neck and held in place with a simple locknut.

leaf husk This classic BLEECO leaf husk performed two functions; it protected the top of the spigot and/or fuse box and added decoration to the base of the swan neck. However, despite its robust appearance, it was badly designed; two slots were made in the base (one of which is clearly seen above), presumably to fit various fuse boxes, but these allowed water and dirt to gather. After years of service, the swan neck had corroded to the point where it simply snapped off.