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 Z8260
Date: Circa Late 1960s - Late 1980s
Dimensions: Length: 29", Width: 6¾", Height: 7½"
Light Distibution: Non Cut-Off (BSCP 1004:1952)
Lamp: 2 x 40W MCFE/U

GEC Z8256 GEC Z8260

History The GEC Z8260 was the final side-road fluorescent lantern designed by the GEC. It was a complete redesign of the previous GEC Z8256 with a sleek new canopy and equally slim-line bowl. In fact, the whole lantern was about compactness: from the operating gear tucked away over the gear tray to the two bulbs now mounted close to each other. It was the last of its type due to fluorescent becoming extremely unpopular in the energy crisis of the 1970s. It was still being sold in the late 1970s, but soon disappeared from the catalogues in the 1980s. Popularity The lantern was extremely popular and could be found in almost every town in the south-east. However, it wasn’t installed by the roadside; it was British Rail's favoured lantern to light their platforms and many could be found lighting the stations until quite recently. (This could be due to the GEC also providing early fluorescent lanterns which bore station names). It was also popular in some towns as a side-road street light. In particular, Cambridge used it as its side-road lantern when REVO stopped manufacturing their Junior Sol-e-tern range. Some very battered, and sorry looking, examples could still be found on Cambridge's streets in 2011, although they will be swept away by the PFI.

The only optical control is a white over reflector. This was originally the secondary optical system of the GEC Z8256 and here it provides the same function, namely simply reflecting flux emitted above the horizontal back down towards the ground.

The bowl has limited optical features and its primary function is to simply protect the tubes and keep the interior of the lantern clean.

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

Despite its 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.

The following pictures were taken as the lantern was reassembled.

Originally an extremely popular lantern, this GEC is now rather rare, not many surviving the great purge of fluorescent lanterns around the country.

It was the standard fluorescent side-road lantern for the Cambridge, where it was used in the 1970s and 1980s when the REVO Junior Sol-Etern range was discontinued. Some examples managed to escape the SOX replacement scheme of the 1980s and 1990s, and were still in service until 2011.

It was also British Rail's lantern of choice for lighting station platforms, where this example came from. Some can still be found in the south of England, but they're gradually disappearing now.