When the incandescent bulb arrived, some exterior lanterns offered a choice of either clear flint glass or opaloid glass, but the function of the lantern was still to protect the bulb(s) and provide an even symmetrical distribution of light. It wasn’t until the 1920s, the scientific foundations of street lighting, and the development of directional lanterns, that the globe lantern fell from favour as a general street lighting lantern.

It was relegated to the back of catalogues as a "decorative" lantern. By the 1930s, the globe lantern was pushed into service on elegant columns and brackets, as a focal point on bridges, boulevards, public spaces, parks and other open areas. Its optical control was limited to just its diffuser bowl.

During the austere 1950s, it had all but disappeared from the manufacturers catalogues and it certainly didn’t fire the imagination of the design conscious 1960s. (Its two main uses being limited to the orange globes of Belisha Beacons and the white sphere of the refuge island lantern). But, it reappeared in the 1970s; companies such as the GEC and Phosco placed their street lighting optical systems within the globe itself, thus embellishing the lantern with modern street lighting optics whilst maintaining its classical daytime appearance. Other companies also jumped on the bandwagon, but simply returned to the old idea of placing a bare lamp in a spherical diffuser.

The spherical lantern is still popular, but today’s push for ever more efficient lanterns and strict control of light means the upper hemisphere of the lantern isn't illuminated in modern versions. Therefore its daytime appearance doesn't match its night apperance. It remains to be seen if authorities will continue favouring this version of the globe lantern.

Name: Philips SPP 70 (Precinct)
Date: Circa 1970s - 1980s
Dimensions: Length: 450mm, Height: 450mm
Light Distibution: None.
Lamp: 70W SON.

Unfortunately no catalogues have surfaced featuring this lantern its dates of manufacturer and bowl and bulb options are unknown.

It has since been discontinued and references cannot be found in the Philips catalogue or online. The closest modern relative is a member of the Philips Urbana range; but that offers a transparent globe with much improved optical control.

They were most effective near buildings or foliage where upward emitted light was put to good effect. However, given the lack of optical control, these lanterns had a very low utilisation factor, and weren’t used for general road lighting (although this doesn’t seem to have been an issue in Europe).

It’s probably no coincidence that this lantern was also dubbed the Philips Precinct.

Whilst still common, these lanterns have started to disappear from the UK streets. Their complete lack of light control and low utilisation factor rendered them obsolete in today’s requirements for energy-efficient lanterns and dark-skies.

facing profile / front profile / trailing profile This lantern used to stand in the grounds of Norwich University where it was part of a large installation which lit the campus. The date on the capacitor suggests the lantern was manufactured (and installed) in 1983.

canopy Whilst still clean and tidy, the plastic globe is covered with a network of tiny cracks on the surface. This cracking is most extensive near the top of the globe where the effect has blackened the top. However, these cracks haven’t affected the structural integrity of the globe, which still remains extremely strong, but they do give the lantern a 'dirty' appearance.

pedestrian view Interestingly, this lantern was converted to metal halide from SON whilst still in service. The bulb fitted is a Venture HIPE 70W/U/LU/UVS/4K; this is a retrofit metal halide bulb for SON gear but does require a new ignitor. Hence the substitution of the original Paramar 70W SON ignitor with a Tridonic SON/MBI ignitor.

The lantern is made of three main pieces; the spigot adaptor, bottom clamp and gear, and the white plastic diffuser.

The spigot adaptor fits into the top of the column with a lip allowing it to sit neatly on top. A diagonally tapped locking screw allows the spigot to be fixed in position; a hole has been drilled in the spigot’s wall to allow access to the screw.

The spigot has now been attached to the top of a piece of cast iron piping. This will act as the column for photographs.

Wiring is attached to a plastic terminal block assembly which pushes into the base of the gear compartment. This allows the entire lantern to be replaced without any rewiring. The live screw had rusted in-place in my lantern, which is why an extra terminal block is required. The two extensively rusted Philips screws at the base of the assembly carried the cable clamp (which has perished).

The bottom clamp and gear comprises two curved pieces of metal which act as a clamp to hold the plastic diffuser in place. Upon this is mounted the lamp control gear, lamp holder bridge and lamp holder. In this shot, the identification sticker can also be clearly seen.

The plastic terminal block assembly engages with the terminal block in the centre of the gear assembly whilst a lock nut (the access hole can be seen drilled in the top clamp below the sticker) allows the whole assembly to be locked to the spigot cap.

On this side, the new Tridonic Ignitor (ZRM 6-ES/B for HS/SON 100-400W and HI/MBI 35-400W) and original Philips power correction capacitor can be seen (L4010/67 10uF).

Whilst the gear tray has the original Philips ballast (BSN 70L66) mounted on the other side.

The base of the bottom clamp shows the spigot entry hole and the gap for the terminal block assembly. The Philips logo can also be seen along with arrow marks; I believe these are to guide the fixing of the globe in position. The two Allen bolts bring the two clamps together, thus tightening themselves around the base of the globe diffuser, creating a water-tight seal and ensuring the entire lantern is solid.

The bottom clamp and gear assembly has now been mounted onto the spigot. The terminal assembly has been pushed into the terminal block and the lock nut tightened so the assembly is solid on the column.

The metal halide bulb is now screwed into the lamp holder. Without the globe diffuser, this gives a piercing blue/white light and its remarkable how the diffuser softens the light.

Finally, the globe itself is slipped between the two clamps, and the allen bolts on the base of the clamp assembly are tightened until the whole unit is solid.

Daylight appearance of the Philips SPP 70. The white horizontal strip across the centre of the globe appears to be a remnant of manufacturing where the two halves of the globe were fused together.

Night appearance of the Philips SPP 70. Normally these lanterns are SON, but this example has been converted for use with metal halide and gives off a pleasant white light (it’s almost impossible to tell the difference with colour corrected high-pressure mercury vapour).

Note how the area all around the lantern is illuminated; there is no light control.