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GEC Z5501 Brookvale

The Brookvale was an oddity in the GEC catalogue as it seemed almost entirely redundant as a lantern. The GEC had several similar lanterns using several different optical systems (such as the Wembley, Oxford and Difractor systems) so the addition of another lantern to the range was confusing.

Despite appearing in a couple of adverts, the Brookvale does not appear in any known GEC catalogue. Furthermore it only seemed to be installed in South Devon.

Many thanks to fellow collector Davy who rescued this example. It's fitted with a 3-pin lampholder, so it originally burned a mercury lamp. Plus it was made in 1954, which is the date stamp on the glass prismatic bowl.