The advantages of fluorescent tubes was immediately apparent. The fluorescent tube was ideally suited for road lighting, casting a wide beam across the road surface and was relatively unaffected by wet conditions (which lead to streaks from more compact light sources). It's non-dazzling white light (due to the low surface brightness of the tube itself) made it an ideal solution for the lighting of high streets, promenades and civic areas, with smaller units used for residential streets. The only problem was the size of the tubes, which in turn lead to large lanterns.

The first fluorescent lanterns were huge, bulky affairs, their size dictated by the bulb lengths, the enormous gear and the limitations of the raw materials of the late 1940s: the lanterns consisted of plate glass panels and metal frames. The optical system was also complex treating each lamp as individual source and concentrating its beam in one area using parabolic polished metal reflectors. Their large size, and equally large capital cost, made lighting authorities hesitant to use these lanterns.

Fluorescent's popularity increased as new aluminium alloys allowed lighter one-piece canopies to be cast, which in turn supported new plastic moulded bowls. The optical systems changed again with all the tubes contributing to the whole: a primary system of lightweight plastic refractors directed the flux onto the road surface and fashioned the main beams; whilst a secondary system (comprising of white over-reflector) directed light above the horizontal back to the refractor plates.

Therefore the lanterns became simpler to manufacture and, in turn, their purchase price decreased. They were still an expensive option, but authorities could justify their use due to their excellent white light (as compared to the more "artificial" coloured mercury and sodium lanterns). Fluorescent lighting was especially popular in new town developments and many manufacturers pointed this out in advertisements.

The lantern's large size was still a problem and manufacturers took a tip from European practise and angled the lantern slightly to disguise its length. Whilst this threw the light further across the road, it was usually done for cosmetic reasons alone.

The 1950s and 1960s were the age of the fluorescent lantern: it's white light seen as an energy efficient replacement for ageing tungsten and gas lighting. As gear sizes were gradually decreased, the manufacturers took advantage by streamlining the lanterns further. Optical systems became simpler until they eventually consisted of no more than the tubes themselves with a small over reflector.

The energy crisis of the 1970s prompted a rethink. The complex white light fluorescent lantern, usually burning multiple tubes, was seen as an expensive luxury: a unit burning two 40W bulbs could be replaced by a single low pressure sodium lantern burning a 35W bulb. The idea that orange light was unsuitable for residential areas and high streets was swept away by economic necessity. Therefore, as an energy saving measure, the tubular fluorescent lantern was gradually removed, to the extent that hardly any exist on public streets anymore.

The use of the tubular fluorescent lamp for street lighting was over. (Although the future looks bright for the compact fluorescent lamp but that's another story...)

Name: GEC Z8256
Date: Circa 1960s
Dimensions: Length: 31¼", Width: 9½", Height: 11"
Light Distibution: Non Cut-Off (BSCP 1004:1952)
Lamp: 2 x 40W MCFE/U

GEC Z8256 GEC Z8260

The Z8256 lantern was a modification of the earlier popular Z8254 fluorescent lantern. The changes were primarily to the lamp positioning, slanting the bottom tube upwards at an angle from the street side to the road side. The bowl was also changed to match this profile. These changes appeared to be primarily concerned with reducing the size of the lantern and removing the need for it to be tilted. (Fluorescent lanterns were often mounted on tilted brackets to disguise their size and to throw more light across the road). By fitting the lantern with an internally tilted tube, and breaking the horizontal lines of the lantern, the GEC engineers ensured the lantern could be mounted on standard non-tilted brackets. This idea appeared to be short lived as the two lanterns which superseded it (including the Z8260) returned to parallel bulbs.

The secondary optical system includes a white-enamelled over-reflector. It simply reflects flux emitted above the horizontal back down towards the ground.

The bi-pin fluorescent connectors are not earthed, suggesting these lanterns used MCFE/U lamps.

facing profile This lantern was aquired from fellow collector P.. Little is known about its service history other than it originally stood somewhere near Epsom, Surrey.

front profile The lantern was just starting to show signs of wear of over forty years in service. The Perspex bowl had discoloured, becoming milky with age, and was starting to split due to expansion of the metal rivets holding the bowl catches.

trailing profile The vertical splits in the bowl can be clearly seen here. The refractor plates had also dropped off (the internal glue having failed) and had been discarded in the past.

canopy Two pairs of toggle clips held the bowl in place. These obviously relied on a thick gasket between the bowl and canopy as without it the clips felt loose.

logo Like many GEC lanterns, the lantern has the makers name cast into the canopy of the lantern. They often included an identification sticker inside the lantern as well, but if one was ever fitted, it has long since disappeared.

pedestrian view There were also two holes in the base of the bowl where the Perpsex was thin. A replacement bowl is very unlikely to turn up, so this bowl will have to do for now.

vertical The vertical view shows the extremely wide base of the bowl. This would’ve helped spread light beneath the lantern.

Despite providing just under forty years of service, the lantern was in remarkably good condition. It was stripped down and given a good clean and the rusty over reflector was stripped and repainted. Unfortunately the bowl's not in the best of condition but there’s nothing I can do about that.

The following pictures were taken as the lantern was reassembled.

Once a popular lantern, now rarer than hens' teeth, this fluorescent lantern features the original slanted deep bowl with slanted lower fluorescent tube.

It originally stood somewhere near Epsom and was aquired from fellow collector P..

The perspex bowl is extremely thin; unfortunately it has cracked and there are some holes in the base of the bowl. however, given the rarity of this particular lantern, that doesn't matter.